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           SisterAgathastillcanedherregularly,butalwaysfromfarenoughawaytoescapetheconsequences,whichlessenedthestrengthofherarmandquitespoiledheraim.

           ThedarkchildwhosatnexttoherwastheyoungestdaughteroftheItalianmanwhoownedandoperatedWahine’sbrightbluecafé.HernamewasTeresaAnnunzio,andshewasjustdullenoughtoescapeSisterAgatha’sattentionwithoutbeingsodullthatitturnedherintoSisterAgatha’sbutt.Whenherteethgrewinshewasquitestrikinglybeautiful,andMeggieadoredher.Duringlessonbreaksintheplaygroundtheywalkedwitharmsloopedaroundeachother’swaists,whichwasthesignthatyouwere"bestfriends"andnotavailableforcourtingbyanyoneelse.Andtheytalked,talked,talked.

           OnelunchtimeTeresatookherintothecafétomeethermotherandfatherandgrown-upbrothersandsisters.TheywereascharmedwithhergoldenfireasMeggiewaswiththeirdarkness,likeninghertoanangelwhensheturnedherwide,beautifullyfleckedgreyeyesuponthem.Fromhermothershehadinheritedanindefinableairofbreedingwhicheveryonefeltimmediately;sodidtheAnnunziofamily.AseagerasTeresatowooher,theygaveherbigfatpotatochipsfriedinsizzlingcauldronsoflambdripping,andapieceofbonedfishwhichtasteddelicious,dippedasitwasinflourybatterandfriedinthesmokingwellofliquidfatalongwiththechips,onlyinaseparatewirebasket.Meggiehadnevereatenfoodsodelicious,andwishedshecouldlunchatthecafémoreoften.