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For the first time in years, he allowed himself to believe Maybe?just maybe?there was hope for him and Lissa Hope for them all

The school bell rang out loud and clear, indicating the end of the school day

Katie let out her breath in a long sigh of relief In her lap, wedged tightly between her skirted thighs, her fists relaxed She'd hed at

Beside her, Savannah was busy collecting her books and restrapping theether Katie scooted back in her chair and stood up Staring down at the books spewed across her desk, she reached shakily for the shortened leather belt

Concentrate, she told herself // ain 't that hard It can't be Everyone else does it all the time

Course, everyone else did lots of things that came hard for her

With exaggerated care, she began stacking her books in a pile atop the open strap

"Savannah? Katie?"

She froze It was Miss Ames's voice

"Yes, ma'am?" Savannah answered

Katie sed reflexively and forced her chin up Miss Aht at her She felt a shiver of fear at the hardness in the teacher's eyes

Miss A

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rapid-fire along the wooden floorboards Each click-click-click hit Katie like a slap on the cheek At her sides, she clutched the heavy wool of her skirt and twisted it nervously

Miss Ames held out a small scrap of paper "Savannah, I want you to take this home to your mother I expect her to call on aze cut to Katie "?your sister's deplorable laziness"