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“Okay!” Beth said ay more excitement than the task called for As she scampered off to the low cabinet that held her shatterproof cups, she said, “I go to preschool today?”

“I don’t know, honey You’re really feeling good?”

“Super good! Please, mommy I want to see my friends” She did a little dance in place that re back and forth with anticipation

There was a lot more healthy color in Beth’s face, and her appetite seehter’s forehead Definitely no fever And being Wednesday, it was Shell’soff from the diner She could really use a few hours to herself to just…be alone and quietly process everything that had happened the night before

“All right You win School it is”

“Yes!” Beth pumped a tiny fist in the air then held it out to Shell “Pound it, Mom,” she said, face totally serious

“Pound it?” Shell snorted out a laugh “Let uess, one of your uncles showed you that one”

Sh Beth’s smile “No, it was Copper He’s not my uncle, he’s my best friend”

Ugh, no one kne to send a shot straight to the heart better than a child Copper treated Beth like she was a princess and he was her huot She had that ruff Handlers, firmly under her sparkly pink spell

“Boohters “Don’t forget to explode” She ers

Shell couldn’t help it, she threw her head back and laughed Nothing put her in a good hter

They ate an uneventful et ready for school Since Beth didn’t cole ache or pain the entire time, Shell assumed it was safe to send her to school Once Beth was all ready to leave, Shell set her up watching cartoons while she got herself ready “I’ll just be fifteen minutes, honey”

“Okay, Moenerated characters

When she reached her room, Shell tore off her clothes and took one of her patented four-minute showers complete with hair wash As she stood outside her bathroo to decide what to wear, a white slip of paper on top of the dresser caught her eye