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"But you have interns "

"Froes Our interns know their way around a TV station Most of them have already worked on their campus broadcasts Im sorry, but youre just not ready "

"Oh "

They stared at each other

"Ive been at this job a long time, Ms Hart, and Ive rarely seen anyone as full of aain "Ill tell you what, you keep sendingIll keep an eye out for you "

"So when Im ready to be a reporter, youll hire me?"

He laughed "You just send e, okay? Then well see "

Tully felt energized again "Ill send you an update once a month Youll hire me someday, Mr Rorbach Youll see "

"I wouldnt bet against you, Ms Hart "

They talked for a few more moments, and then Mr Rorbach showed her out of his office On the way to the stairs, he stopped at the trophy case, where dozens of Eht

"Ill win an Eertips She refused to let herself be wounded by this setback, and that was all it was: a setback

"You knohat, Tallulah Hart, I believe you Now go off to high school and enjoy your senior year Real life coh "

Outside, it looked like a postcard of Seattle; the kind of blue-skied, cloudless, picture-perfect day that lured out-of-towners into selling their ho here If only they kne rare these days were Like a rocket blaster, suht in this part of the world and went out with equal speed

Holding her grandfathers thick black briefcase against her chest, she walked up the street toward the bus stop On an elevated track above her head, the round quake

All the way home, she told herself it was really an opportunity; now shed be able to prove her worth in college and get an even better job