Page 49 (1/2)

We were there at the afterer andred hair and a weary, put-upon expression, found Sae was like so many, a mess of folded lawn furniture, plastic bins of papers and old books, slu board of tools There was no car; the garage had obviously been turned over to use for storage

A washer and dryer piled high with laundry

Against one as a metal locker, red, closed with a combination lock

“What are you doing in here, honey?”

Sauiltily froh A small pile of objects sat on a table that had obviously once been used for arts and crafts, as it was spattered with paint and globs of dried glue and even scraps of tissue paper stuck in place The objects included a tiny silver cup inscribed ords I could not see frorammar school project, a storybook covered in construction paper and decorated with crayon drawings of a girl and a dog

“Oh, I’ for so the storybook aside self-consciously

“I heard you’re having some issues at school,” the mother said

“Issues?”

“Sa bullied?”

Samantha shook her head “No, I’m fine”

“One of the mothers calledpicked on”

“No, Mom, I would tell you”

“Would you? Because I can help”

“I’estured at the stuff on the table “I was looking for Miss Pooky”

“Who?”