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The Mouse and I forced Maggie to make a pact that ould never tell anyonethat day in East Milton, because it’s Walt’s business and his to handle how he sees fit Maggie agreed not to tell anyone—including Peter—but it didn’t prevent her fro into an emotional wreck She skipped two days of school and spent them in bed; on the third day, when she finally appeared in asselasses Then she wore nothing but black for the rest of the week The Mouse and I did everything we could—etting food for her at the cafeteria so she didn’t have to stand in line—but you’d think the love of her life had died Which is slightly annoying, because if you look at it froical point of view, all that really happened was she dated a guy for two years, broke up with him, and then they both found souy or a girl? But Maggie refuses to see it that way She insists it’s all her fault—she wasn’t “woh” for Walt

So when George called and offered to take et away from my own life for a few hours

And thehiie, and howand , save for the fact that I happen to have a boyfriend I will tell hiht But in the meantime, it’s such a relief to unburden myself that I don’t want to spoil the fun

I know I’e does see “You can use all of this in your writing,” he said during the drive to the mountain

“I couldn’t,” I countered “If I put any of this in The Nut, I’d be run out of school”

“You’re experiencing every writer’s dile those you know—and love”

“Not me,” I said “I’d never want to hurt so I wouldn’t be able to live with myself afterward”

“You’ll ware says now

“If we getof the chairlift to the trail below It’s a wide path bordered by pine trees, where several skiers in candy-colored suits weave across the snow like sewing needles, leaving tracks of thread behind Froe point, they don’t appear to be exceptional athletes If they can do it, why not me?

“You scared?” George asks

“Nah,” I say boldly, even though I’ve skied a total of three times in my life, and only in Lali’s backyard

“Remember to keep the tips of your skis up Let the back of the seat push you off”

“Sure,” I say, clutching the side of the chairlift We’re nearly at the top, and I’ve just admitted that I’ve never actually ridden in a chairlift before

“All you have to do is get off,” George says in amusement “If you don’t, they have to shut down the entire lift and the other skiers get angry”

“Don’t want to piss off those snow bunnies,” I liding smoothly down a little hill and the chairlift is behind e At which point I promptly fall over