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I nodded You learn sorades like?” I asked, switching gears

“Okay, I guess”

I went through the tedious process of digging for e student who read at a higher than average grade level And she had better verbal abilities than her terse responses would suggest

“So what’re you reading now?” I asked

She held up the book A Piece of Cake by Cupcake Brown

“I read that Quite a story”

She nodded “It’s real”

It was real, all right The irl Cupcake Brown (her real name) had run away fro, addicted to drugs—before her eighteenth birthday She hit rock botto in a du addicts and the law firm that employed her, Cupcake turned it all around and beca story about possibilities that casts a positive light on lawyers—and you don’t get to hear many of those

“Are you reading that for class?”

“Naw Jus’ for fun”

“It’s refreshing toperson who reads” I winced at my choice of words, those of an old fart Tina didn’t seem to notice “You do any after-school stuff?” I asked

“I played softball up ‘til last year, but I dropped outta that”

“How come?”

Another shrug Maybe she was trying to work out knots in her shoulders “I dunno Just don’t feel like it no more”

“Ever do any volunteer work?”