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"Teasing me?"

"Teasing myself," I said "So let's stop before I break out inpimples"

He laughed

"Who told you that would happen Mrs Geary?"

"No Ieven though I kneas frustrated I was too but I'd die before confessing it

If he asks ain I'll know he really cares forMoht me,

Maybe I wasn't such a little girl Maybe turning sixteen was an understates Mrs Geary thought and feared about teenagers today siant

Maybes hovered everywhere, bouncing about me like the balloons tied to all the trees

I ran down Mommy's ramp in front of the house and joined Daddy at the tables The patty was being organized like a ca their bathing suits Four years ago Daddy had gotten Uncle Roy to construct a raft which they placed at the center of the lake We had pedal boats and two kayaks as well as tboats The lake had catfish and bass However Uncle Roy co your hook into a goldfish bowl He said there was no challenge

He was over by the dance floorsure it was laid down properly I looked about, expecting to see Harley, too, but he wasn't anywhere in sight,

"Hi, Uncle Roy," I called approaching He turned fro and looked up at me

"Hey Princess Happy birthday" He had been callingas I could remember Once when I walked in on a conversation Uncle Roy was having with Mohter,' I had no idea what he had meant at the time but I knew he meant me

"Thank you Uncle Roy"

"The way so could splinter up in minutes," he

complained "I told them I wanted thicker boards"