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Last August, Daisy had announced that she was finally, finally getting out of their shithole town She told her mother, and anyone else ould listen, that she and Matt were headed to Sturgis, and if Daisy liked what she saell then maybe she’d move there

Sue Cutter had not been impressed

She’d told Daisy that Matt was nearly as useless as Daisy herself, and the sooner Daisy Mae put down the crayons and started focusing on a real job, the better off they’d all be

Daisy adjusted her backpack and heard the colored pencils -thank you very daether in the front pocket Her - and her drawing even less so

“Don’t see no point in spending ,” Sue Cutter would repeat, often and loudly

Daisy always resisted the urge to point out that stocking your fridge with beer for a guy who only stopped by a few times a month was just as pointless If Earl Minor hadn’t rescued the to

“I’ back,” Daisy said in as fir she was flat broke and stuck in an unfamiliar city

“Oh, really? Got your new career all worked out?”

Daisy wasn’t sure if herelse She spun on her heel and walked out of the bus terh the double doors that led out to the sidewalk “Anyway,” she said loudly into the phone “I was just calling to let you know I’”

Sue snorted “What’s your new man’s name?” she asked sarcastically “Cause Matt Clawson’s too busy with Steph Nen to bother with you, not that he was ever any kind of catch to begin with Boy, you sure can pick ‘em”

Daisy also resisted the urge to point out just where she’d gotten her unfortunate taste insunlight “Bye, et settled”

Not wanting to go yet another round with the older woman, Daisy disconnected the call She looked around and decided for no good reason to take a left She headed up the block, following the chain link fence until it gave way to a railroad track Beyond it was a place called the “Rainbow Motel,” or the “Rain ow,” as it were, seeing as how one light bulb was burned out Daisy smirked as she headed for the rat trap She could relate She ht have one bulb burned out, but she wasn’t worried She could still shine