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The Jubilee Express
Maureen Johnson
For Hao down the hill really fast, and if so me how to deal with a snowy slope And for all who toil behind the facade of a corporate rande latte three thousand times a day, for every soul who's ever had to deal with a broken credit card reader in the holiday rushthis one is for you
Chapter One
It was the night before Christmas
Well, to be more precise, it was the afternoon before Christ heart of the action, let’s get one thing out of the way I know from experience that if it comes up later, it will distract you soelse I tell you
My naal Take a moment and let it sink in
See, when you get it up front, it’s not that bad Now i story (like I’m about to be), and I dropped that one on you “By the way, my name is Jubilee” You wouldn’t knohat to do next
I realize Jubilee is a bit of a stripper name You probably think I have heard the call of the pole But no If you saw et the idea pretty quickly that I’m not a stripper (I think) I have a little black bob I wear glasses half the ti in choir, I attend Mathletes events I play field hockey, which lacks the undulating, baby-oiled grace that is the stripper’s stock and trade (I have no proble this I’e-wise, is the latex I think latex is probably bad for your skin because it doesn’t allow it to breathe)
My objection is that Jubilee isn’t a name—it’s some kind of a party No one knohat kind Have you ever heard of soo? Because I wouldn’t It sounds like soe inflatable object, put up bunting, and make a complicated plan for trash disposal
Coeable with hoedown
My name has a lot to do with this story, and like I said, it was the afternoon before Christ one of those days when you feel that lifelikes you Finals were over and school was done until New Year’s I was alone in our house, which was feeling very cozy and snug I was dressed for the night in a new outfit I’d saved for—a black skirt, tights, a sparkly red T-shirt, andlatte that I’d cooked up for o It was all leading up to the big event: at six, I was supposed to go to Noah’s house—Noah Price, asbord