Chapter 22

           WhenIcameback,shehadthepillowoffherheadallright—Iknewshewould—butshestillwouldn’tlookatme,eventhoughshewaslayingonherbackandall.WhenIcamearoundthesideofthebedandsatdownagain,sheturnedhercrazyfacetheotherway.Shewasostracizingthehelloutofme.JustlikethefencingteamatPenceywhenIleftallthegoddamfoilsonthesubway.

           "How’soldHazelWeatherfield?"Isaid."Youwriteanynewstoriesabouther?Igotthatoneyousentmerightinmysuitcase.It’sdownatthestation.It’sverygood."

           "Daddy’llkillyou."

           Boy,shereallygetssomethingonhermindwhenshegetssomethingonhermind.

           "No,hewon’t.Theworsthe’lldo,he’llgivemehellagain,andthenhe’llsendmetothatgoddammilitaryschool.That’sallhe’lldotome.Andinthefirstplace,Iwon’tevenbearound.I’llbeaway.I’llbe—I’llprobablybeinColoradoonthisranch."

           "Don’tmakemelaugh.Youcan’tevenrideahorse."

           "Whocan’t?SureIcan.CertainlyIcan.Theycanteachyouinabouttwominutes,"Isaid."Stoppickingatthat."Shewaspickingatthatadhesivetapeonherarm."Whogaveyouthathaircut?"Iaskedher.Ijustnoticedwhatastupidhaircutsomebodygaveher.Itwaswaytooshort.