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"The phone doesn't see with it?"

She pressed her lips together and walked to the kitchen I hobbled behind her and watched her lift the receiver and listen after she had dialed the operator, too Then she cradled it and shook her head

"It be dead again Out of order," she recited "Thunderstorht probably do it down"

"Well ill it be fixed?""

"Soon, maybe Maybe not so soon," she replied She started back to the living room

"Well, is there any place else nearby with a phone that would work?'

"The grocery store on the corner has a phone," she said "Pay phone"

"Okay"

I took a deep breath and started for the front door "You need rest," she advised

"As soon as I do this," I said "Merci"

She shook her head and returned to her work I opened the door and went out The sky was quite overcast now The break in the clouds that we had earlier had coer breeze I could al It was a typical summer thunderstorm day where it would rain in isolated areas for a while and then ht but I have to call Mommy I can't let her worry another minute

Ioff my left foot If I did put it down too hard, my ankle irocery store I could see the pay phone on the outside wall near the door The moment I lifted the receiver and dialed for the operator I knew this phone was out of order too My heart sank I had to get in touch with my parents I had to

I entered the grocery store There was only a short fatbehind the deli counter He had a round, pockht brown hair, but thick sideburns He looked up at lasses, whichfish eyes

"Can I help you?" he asked with a face of curiosity After all, how ht,

"I need to make an important phone call and the phone in the house I'm in doesn't work and your pay phone doesn't work," I explained