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She stood in the front of the classrooreen blackboard behind her In the desk/chair sets in front of her, a dozen or so bored-looking kids slu Beside her, the professor—a young guy with long, shaggy hair, wearing Air Jordans and cae pants—waited patiently

Kate took a deep breath and began to read: "The girl in the sain Or she thought she was In this place where the lights didnt work and the ere covered in black paper and duct tape, it was hard to tell the truth Should she take a chance and try to escape? That was the question The last time shed tried to run, shed miscalculated and it had cost her Unconsciously she rubbed the still-tender area along her jaw"

She lost herself in the words shed written, in the short story that was hers and hers alone All too quickly it was over, the last sentence read, and she looked up, expecting to see a new respect in the faces that stared up at her

No such luck

"Well," the professor said, co It seeenre writer in our midst Who has a comment?"

For the next twentyfor flaws She listened carefully, refusing to let herself be stung by the criticisms Who cared that shed spent ales? What hten her story and try to ue By the end of class, instead of feeling wounded or dejected, she felt empowered, as if a heretofore unseen path had just been revealed She couldnt wait to get hoain

As she packed up her stuff to leave, the professor came over to her, said, "You show real promise, Kate "

"Thank you "

Bea, she hurried out of the classroo lot, she iined new directions for the story, ways to fix it

So caught up in her iined world was she that she missed her exit and had to backtrack

At just past 1:20, she pulled into the parking stall under the cement viaduct and walked across the street to Ivars Restaurant Her h the wall of s, Elliott Bay sparkled in the sunlight Seagulls wheeled and dropped and dove for french fries thrown by tourists on the pier outside

"Sorry I down across fro it rest in her lap "I hate driving in the city "

"I ordered us both shrimp louies I know you have to catch the two-ten boat " Mom leaned forward, put her elbows on the table "Well? Did your professor think your story was better than John Grisham?"

Kate couldnt help laughing at that "He didnt use those exact words, no But he did say I had talent "

"Oh " Mo disappointed "I think your story was brilliant Even Daddy thought so "