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“I’ain with more force

One of his friends steps in “C’et out of here Your mom’s here to pick us up”

The kid—Kirkland—lets out a sigh “I’mma beat your score,” he tells me, “someday,” he adds uncertainly, then turns and leaves with his little trio of amers

Kirkland Wow, he’s grown a lot since the last ti the rade this year Bonnie was a frequent customer at Lucille’s where my mom works She used to babysit me back in the day, too, before my lovely stepfather came into the picture and cut everyone nice out of my life If it wasn’t for his invasion, I’d have a better relationship with Kirkland I could have been a big bro to hiuess I’ll settle for being the cheater in the arcade instead Even though I’m no damned cheater

With my experience at the arcade soured, I decide to suck it up and head hoet there, the back ofaround the side of the house through the always-opened gate in the fence, I push intothe door close behindfan, drop onto o round and round I wipe at a spot on my chin, then realize it’s a tiny slected to clean off properly in the school restroo on my chin the whole afternoon?

There’s an unsuccessful shove atwith a loud creak, and in stuhtly together with questions

I sigh and drop back onfirst day back, Lee The least you can do—”

“What happened at lunch?” he asks anyway

“—is leave me be for a bit so I can rest,” I finish

Lee closes the door behind hiives it a spin, then frowns at me “Everyone was talkin’ about it Why were you so late for fifth period? Were you really at the principal’s office that whole tionna freak out”

I cover my face with a hand—which s level-one i, she’s Marly Now, she’s Mom Who will she be tomorrow?”

Lee stops spinning in the chair “What are you talking about?”

“Don’t you have football practice or so he’d just leave

“It’s over already It’s 5:35”

I lift ain to peek aton the floor halfway across the roo I ht