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That’s when I hear the voices “It’s horse shit! Horse shit, Paul!”

“It’s fine, honey,” co the woman “We knew there would be buht But look at it this way: We’re one unopposed? Nadine, honey, it’s just an article written by some paid-off intern”

“Well, I sure ain’t gonna stoop to his level and write no dang article about how he spendsporno shops on the outskirts of Fairview than he doeshis on Don’t ask me how I know, I just do”

“You hear it all, huh?” teases Paul I hear the smack of lips

After a sigh, Nadine goes on “Maybe it’s a lost cause Maybe I really do make a better councilperson But is it so hter than it already does? Our mayor sits around eatin’ cinnaet overrun by weeds, while buildings cruloats every tiaplex-somethin’-er-other How much more can you take, Paul? I sure can’t!”

“He knows you throw a big Halloween bash every year And he was countin’ on you reading this article today and breaking your spirit But your spirit can’t be broken And why can’t it be?”

“Yeah, yeah, ‘cause I’ so corny?” she teases hihter is shared “Oh, I’d better clean up oin’ on soon, isn’t it? What time is it?”

The door across the hall opens, and out walk the two people whose conversation I just heard every word of Mr Paul Strong is an older, less rayish-brown hair and glasses, and he appears to be in nor is a petite woman in every aspect of the word—except for her boobs, which nearly spill out of the tight corset she’s wearing as part of her costume Between her whacky hair and lavish eye makeup, I’d suspect she’s so ives a look of shock, which quickly turns into suspicion “There’s a bathroo “Just under the stairs, a half-bath”

I get the sense suddenly that I’m not welcome here “Sorry I, uh …” I try to stuff my hands into my pockets, then realize I don’t have any “I didn’tToby sent e “I’m Vann,” I finally blurt out “Toby’s boyfriend”

“Oh, I knoho you are” She purses her lips as she drags her eyes downcostume”

“It’s all Toby His idea We’re a couple of characters froame he’s way into Listen, I …” I take a step toward her She lifts her eyes to h the door, but I heard it And I know you knoho et this out “Who my parents are Maybe you don’t like me because of them But I just want to say I don’t approve of whofor I don’t think we should have a say in the politics of this tohether or not onea jumble out of all of this “Well, whatever I’ive up their work …”

The bathroooblin cos, then takes off down the hall

Mrs Strong nods at the bathroom “Your turn”

I guess it was aaway to head into the bathroom

“And thank you,” she adds

I stop and glance at her over a shoulder

Mrs Strong doesn’t s that From what I heard of you and your relationship with dear, sweet Toby, you’re fiercely loyal and … sometimes to a fault To say that about your own parents must not be easy” She sh play was quite stellar Made e”

From what I understand about this town, a co cos, I can’t take that lightly “Thanks, Mrs Strong”