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“That’s perfect!”

“I know A dock adds over one hundred thousand dollars’ worth of value to this place” Winona frowned “Is that what you meant?”

Vivi Ann glanced over at Noah, as studying his dirty fingernails as if he old in there “Noah doesn’t want to be in 4-H any to show at the fair”

“Uh Duh He’s a boy Maybe you want him to take ballet, too”

“I’lad to see you understand the problem It wasn’t quite so clear to me”

“Of course it wasn’t You were beautiful and popular If you wanted to play football, the guys would have said it was cute Hell, if you threw up at ho, the boys would’ve lined up to hold your hair and still thought you were adorable A kid like Noah has to be careful: no math or co to make friends, not lose them”

“And you said he shouldn’t be sitting around all day”

“Did I? I think I said he needed counseling, too He seerier than normal”

“What he needs is a su else to fight about”

“That’s a great idea It would use up his tiive him self-esteem and” Winona stopped “No,” she said to Vivi Ann, shaking her head “You aren’t thinking—”

“It would be perfect He could clean up the dock Eight hours a day, five days a week You can pay hio broke and your dock won’t ever get cleaned up”

“I’m supposed to pay him, too?”

“Well, he’ll hardly do it for free And you’re rich”

“Look, Vivi Ann,” Winona said, lowering her voice “I don’t know about this”

“Tell her you’re scared of erous”