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Chapter 26
Thegirl’seyesbrightenedforamoment,andthenshelookedaside.«Iain’tpierced.»
«Well,I’ma-gonnapierceya.»Mahurriedbackintothetent.Shecamebackwithacardboardbox.Hurriedlyshethreadedaneedle,doubledthethreadandtiedaseriesofknotsinit.Shethreadedasecondneedleandknottedthethread.Intheboxshefoundapieceofcork.
«It’llhurt.It’llhurt.»Masteppedtoher,putthecorkinbackoftheearlobeandpushedtheneedlethroughtheear,intothecork.Thegirltwitched.«Itsticks.It’llhurt.»
«Nomore’nthat.»
«Yes,itwill.»
«Well,then.Le’sseetheotherearfirst.»Sheplacedthecorkandpiercedtheotherear.«It’llhurt.»
«Hush!»saidMa.«It’salldone.»RoseofSharonlookedatherinwonder.Maclippedtheneedlesoffandpulledoneknotofeachthreadthroughthelobes.
«Now,"shesaid.«Ever’daywe’llpulloneknot,andinacoupleweeksit’llbeallwellan’youcanwear’em.Here—they’reyour’nnow.Youcankeep’em.»
RoseofSharontouchedherearstenderlyandlookedatthetinyspotsofbloodonherfingers.«Itdidn’hurt.Jus’stuckalittle.»
«Yououghtabeenpiercedlongago,"saidMa.Shelookedatthegirl’sface,andshesmiledintriumph.«Nowgetthemdishesalldoneup.Yourbabygonnabeagoodbaby.Verynearletyouhaveababywithoutyourearswaspierced.Butyou’resafenow.»
«Doesitmeansomepin?»
«Why,’courseitdoes,"saidMa.«’Courseitdoes.»
Alstrolleddownthestreettowardthedancingplatform.
