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rhyth them The silence, as short as

it was, made the three boys uncomfortable They

gazed quickly at each other, squirmed in their clothes

and looked from me to my mother to the floor and

then back to Daddy

"I brought her some notes from classes she's

into his pants

pocket to produce some papers

"That's very thoughtful," Mother finally said "Aren't you boys afraid of getting sick

yourselves so close to the end of the school year?"

Daddy questioned, his eyes narrowing suspiciously "No sir," Arnold replied quickly

"We won't get that close to her," Quin added,

digging the corner of his mouth deeper into his cheek

Peter widened his smile

"I hope not," Daddy muttered "Olivia," he said