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"Mr Petersen is your son? But you have different last names"

"That’s because John’s father died when John was a teenager Years later I married ‘Bob’ Bidziil Carpenter He died, too, a few years back," Mrs Carpenter explained "Anyhow, Maggie Mae, let o"

I nodded because I couldn’t talk Mr Petersen had handed me over to his own mother in spite of all s were locked up, we got into a baby-blue Ford pickup truck that looked older thanfro with a strand of black still attached

"So, tell ie Mae--what happened to your mother and father?"

My hand froze on the seat belt and I looked at her "I don’t know They died before I can rerandparents?"

I hooked my seat belt "They’re dead, too Child services couldn’t trace a single person who I was related to That’s how I ended up in foster care"

Mrs Carpenter studied ine

"John told ram until you were five years old Who did you live with until then?" We bounced down the long gravel drive

A child’s face flashed before ht red freckles on her full cheeks--the face of Lucy Reynolds, my cousin But Lucy didn’t have freckles

"I lived with my aunt and cousin" My voice was barely audible above the truck engine

"What happened to theie Mae, you and I are alike Seems that those closest to us die I lost two husbands; you lost your parents, your cousin, and your aunt We’re two peas in a pod"

3

"Now, the kids in this town are different froht, for the h School parking lot and bounced into a parking space She shut off the truck engine, left the keys hanging in the ignition, and got out I pressed ainst the seat and closed ie Mae?" she asked after a longat me from her open door

I thrust my chin forward, took a deep breath, and openedlot--student, parent, and teacher alike--stopped what they were doing and stared I tried not to make contact with any of those eyes, but somehow ht at me and his eyes were as dark as his inky black hair By his suddenly raised eyebrows, he was very aware that I was gawking at hier O’Connell, wait!" Mrs Carpenter called out My heart seemed to freeze as he stopped and faced her

"Yes, Mrs C?" he asked, glancing at ie Mae around the school while I get her registered?" Mrs Carpenter nodded towardy wet hair to s--name-brand jeans that fit him like they’d been tailored to his tall body, a tan leather jacket over a button-up shirt--even his backpack looked brand-new I looked down, hating the fact thatand bunched up over Jenny Sue’s old running shoes, hating the rips over boththe black T-shirt that was faded toI used in place of a backpack I wouldn’t want to be seen with me, either

"I don’t need any help, Mrs Carpenter I can show er’s

"I don’t h his hair

"I don’t want to be seen with you Ito to school when everyone thought you were a loner because you chose to be, not because you were dirt poor and dressed all wrong "I’llat her astonished face before pushing past Bridger O’Connell He s, hite tile walls that h new schools that finding my way around another was second nature The students stared as I wandered by Their conversations stopped--until I walked past And then the halls filled with voices

After a quick self-guided tour, I madeto a short, plu behind the front desk The plaque on the desk read SHAUNA WINSLOW She held a piece of paper out to me

"Your new schedule," she said "Your transcripts arrived thisyour new classes off the old Welcoh"

"Thanks" I took the paper and scanned ebra II, and then twelfth-grade English followed by lunch and a free period After that I had Aniricultural Studies Ani else was just day-filler till I could get my diploma and be done with school forever

"I’ll showat Mrs Carpenter

"All right, Maggie Mae I had Shauna write your bus nuht here" She touched the top corner of the schedule "It’ll drop you off about a quarter mile from my house"

" ’Kay," I replied

"She’s sure an independent thing," Shauna Winslow said as I walked out the door

I wandered down the deserted hall, scanning the closed doors for room 3 When I found it, I put my hand on the icy knob, took a deep breath, and turned

The sreeted me--lab day

I scanned the room as I closed the door behindan experirant chemical