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“Why?”

“Because I’ to open Mary’s robe” She pulled the knot on the robe’s tie and, feeling vaguely squeamish, opened the robe

Mary earing only panties Pink Strange, Astrid thought, that she even noticed Because the thing most noticeable about Mary was her ribs They could be easily counted Her stomach was hollow

“Oh, poor Mary” Astrid breathed, and closed the robe again

John opened his eyes They ith tears “What’s wrong with her?”

Astrid leaned over to reach Mary’s face She gently pushed her lips back to see her teeth She tugged at a lock of Mary’s hair Strands came loose

“She’s starving,” Astrid said

“She’s getting as much food as the rest of us,” John protested

“She’s not eating Or when she does eat, she vomits it back up That’s what the ipecac is for”

“Why would she do that?” John wailed

“It’s a sickness, John Anorexia Buliuess”

“We have to get

her some food”

“Yes” Astrid didn’t explain that just getting Mary fooddisorders Soet treatment, they died

“Nestor, Nestor, Nestor, Nestor” It was Little Pete, chanting at the top of his lungs “Nestor, Nestor, Nestor, Nestor”