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“What should weJessica's little apron around her

“Chocolate chip pancakes, they're Becky’s favorite”

“They are?”

“Yup”

“How do you know?” I asked, putting on my own apron

“Oh, she told s We talk all the time at our tea parties”

“That ht about that

The little redhead looked up at me “Becky's really nice She even talks to Mr Otter, Bunny Bun, and the others They all like her too”

“Is Becky your friend?” I asked, curious

“My best friend!” Jessica said, with the conviction of all six-year-olds

“What else do you and Becky talk about?”

“Oh, lots of stuff Did you know she went to school for math and ballet?”

“I knew about ballet”

“She did math too! She's super-duper smart!”

“I've noticed”

“And really, really pretty!”

“I noticed that, too”

“Do you think I'll be pretty like her?”

“No, I mean, you'll be pretty, but you probably won't look like Becky?”

“Who will I look like?”

“Well, I would guess your mommy”

“Oh, good! Mommy was really pretty too!”

I couldn't honestly say I had particularly noticed I never really thought about Simone that way, but in retrospect, I couldn't deny that she really had been a knockout As beautiful on the outside as she had been on the inside

I was struck by another pang and thought for ato keepelse At least I was able to look atpain

Becky had been right, about everything, but especially the part about Jessica being a part of Si there for Jess is what Simone would have waned She didn't add that Simone would have probably wanted uessed that was the case

It was just howsister was She couldn't stand to see anyone in pain