
     ,,sev5
  ,crises
  ,vicki felt awkw>d :5 ,judd pull$ 96! driveway ( 8 big suburban home4 ,%e _h be5 9 a h|se t size only twice 2f1 bo? "ts = "pies4 ,%e _hn't felt -=ta# !n ei4 ,b ? 0 di6}5t4 ,"! 0 no "py "h4 ,"! 0 no "o "h b ! two ( !m4 ,:5 0 ! la/ "t %e _h be5 al"o )a te5age boy )|t w9d+ up dr9k+1 smok+1 do+ dope1 or worse8
  ,judd seem$ n}v|s1 %{+ h} >.d1 tell+ h} %e cd /ay 9 ! gue/ b$room d{n/airs :ile he wd keep 8 room up/airs4 8,doesn't x give y ! creeps 6/ay s close 6": ! re/ ( yr family us$ 6be80 %e ask$4
  8,a ll10 he sd4 8,b ,i h no *oice4 ,": else wd ,i g80
  ,vicki _h j be5 ?9k+ ! same ?+4 ,%e didn't say s4 ,all %e sd was1 8,i hate 6ask1 b d y h any?+ 6eat >.d "h80
  8,"n x10 ,judd sd4 8,we h any?+ & "ey?+ y want40
  ,vicki & ,judd raid$ ! refrig}ator & ate well4 ,%e notic$ he 0 z h1vy-ey$ z %e was4 ,i don't l 6sleep dur+ ! "d10 %e sd4 8,b ,i'm go+ 6pass | sitt+ "h if ,i don't lie d{n40
  ,judd po9t$ 6! gue/ room4 8,i'm go+ 6sleep too10 he sd4 8,i wdn't 2 surpris$ if ,i sleep all "d & all ni<t1 b ,i've n"e d"o t 2f4 ,m likely1 ,i'll wake up af sev5 or ei<t h|rs1 l ,i alw d40
  8,me too10 %e sd4 8,b ,i don't rememb} "e 2+ s exhau/$40
  8,i'd say we've be5 "? a lot1 wdn't y#b0 he sd4
  ,!y bo? lau<$ =! f/ "t s9ce !y'd "kn ea* o!r4
  ,vicki qkly grew s}i|s4 ,%e sd1 8,y "k1 ,judd1 ,i'm go+ 6h 6ask y 6run me "s": tm s ,i c get "s clo!s4 ,i'll keep track ( :at"e x co/s & pay y back40
  8,no pro#m10 he sd1 8b f/ y "| 6*eck my mom's closet4 ,%e4 0 ab yr size40
  8,re,y8 ,:at size 0 %e80
  8,i don't "k4 ,%e 0 ab yr size1 t's all ,i "k40
  8,w{10 ,vicki sd4 8,i hope ,i'm / ?9 :5 ,i'm h} age40
  8,if y 2lieve :at ,bruce ,b>nes 2lieves1 we hav5't got m* m ?an sev5 ye>s 6live anyway40
  8,pl5ty ( "t 6get fat10 ,vicki sd1 %ru7+4 ,:at k9d (a rem>k 0 t8 ,%e _h n"e 5gag$ 9 small talk ) any"o 2f4 ,9 ! pa/ "ey?+ %e talk$ ab _h be5 c5t}$ on :at %e lik$ or didn't l1 :at %e 0 go+ 6d or n d4 ,%e hat$ talk+ ab normal ?+s--8no?+0 ?+s1 %e alw call$ !m4 ,? 0 ! /uff adults & o!r bor+ types alw talk$ ab4
  8,y c h :at"e y want ( my mom's /uff10 ,judd sd4 8,i m1n1 %e's obvi|sly n -+ back4 ,w x make y feel weird80
  8,weird80
  8,we>+ "s"o else's clo!s1 "s"o :o 4appe>$10
  8,h{ w y feel see+ me 9 yr mom's clo!s80

  8,i don't guess ,i'd m9d4 ,y'll probably we> !m di6}5tly--,i m1n1 ti$ up or cut (f or tuck$ 9 or untuck$ or :at"e40
  8,y1h1 & ,i hope x w 2 tempor>y anyway4 ,i want 6get a job & get myf "s new /uff40
  8,sure4 ,b m1n:ile '''0
  8,m1n:ile ,i'll try 6get by if "!'s any?+ t "ws1 s ,i won't h 6we> dirty clo!s40
  8,gd4 ,y want 6look = "s /uff n{1 9 case y want 6*ange :5 y get up8 ,i m1n1 y don't h to4 ,y look p}fectly f9e1 b y mi<t want "s fre% '''n t :at y're we>+ doesn't look fre% or any?+1 b--0
  8,x's all "r1 ,judd4 ,yes1 ,i wd l 6see if "!'s "s?+ ,i cd we> :5 ,i wake up4 ,did yr "m we> j1ns1 sw1t}s1 t k9d ( /uff1 or only dresses & old ladies' /uff80
  8,"h's a picture ( h}40
  ,vicki /udi$ ! photograph (a v y|?;l1 trim1 & def9itely petite woman4
  8,is ? a rec5t picture80
  8,y1h40
  8,%e looks v /yli%40
  8,my frs sd %e 0 a babe40
  8,6h} face80
  8,no1 6m9e4 ,i 0 pr|d ( h}40 ,judd 0 talk+ ab 8 "m z if %e 7 d1d4 ,x seem$ 6,vicki 8 voice 0 ab 6br1k4
  8,i c see :y y 7 pr|d ( h}10 ,vicki sd4 8,if %e has a lot ( clo!s l ?1 ,i'd 2 honor$ 6we> !m4 ,rememb}1 ,judd1 %e's n d1d4 ,if "ey?+ we 2lieve is true1 & we bo? "k x is1 %e's 9 h1v540
  8,i "k10 he sd1 sitt+ on ! c|* & si<+4 8,b %e mi<t z well 2 d1d4 ,%e's d1d 6me4 ,i won't see h} ag40
  8,n "h1 anyway10 ,vicki agre$1 8b 9 h1v5 or :5 ,jesus -es back40
  8,i guess ,i wdn't want 6see h} 9 h1v510 ,judd sd4 8,t wd m1n ,i'd h 6die )9 ! next sev5 ye>s40
  8,n necess>ily10 ,vicki sd1 yawn+4 8,bruce says ! sev5 la/ ye>s don't actu,y 2g9 until ,israel signs "s sort (a tr1ty ) t ,anti*ri/ guy40
  ,ag ,vicki 0 /unn$ at :at 0 -+ | ( h} {n m|?4 ,wd %e h he>d ( or "kn any ( ? a week ago8 ,wd %e h c>$8 ,wd %e h talk$ ab x8 ,h>dly4 ,%e _h n"e c>$ ab politics1 especi,y 9t}n,nal politics4 ,%e didn't re,y c>e ab m* |tside h} {n trail} p>k4 ,n{ n only 0 life 9 ! p>k g"o1 b %e al 0 talk+ ab global a6airs )a ri* kid %e _h j met4
  8,nobody ev5 "ks if ! ,anti*ri/ is >.d yet10 ,judd sd4 8,b ,bruce sd he alr has 8 eye on "sbody40
  8,i don't ?9k ,i'd ev5 want 6"k :o x was10 ,vicki sd4
  8,i sure d10 ,judd sd4 8,i don't want 6be suck$ 9 0 hm & fool$40
  8,well1 t's true40
  8,y want 6look at ~? clo!s n{80
  8,sure4 ,!n ,i'm gett+ "s sleep40
  ,judd direct$ h} 6his p>5ts' b$room & left ,vicki 6look >.d 9 "! = h}f4 ,%e f.d x e}ie4 ,n =ty-ei<t h|rs e>li}1 p 7 liv+ "h ) no idea _! m9utes 7 numb}$4 ,x 0 a n1t room1 b /uff 0 left ab1 ! way x is :5 p ?9k !y'll 2 back 6tidy up4 ,a jewelry box 0 op54 ,a draw} 0 half %ut4 ,"o side (! closet 0 op51 ! o!r %ut4 ,books 7 on ! ni<t/&s2 half a glass ( wat} 0 on ! floor next 6! b$4
  ,vicki 0 s tir$ %e cd b>ely keep h} eyes op54 ,%e *eck$ ! closet & wond}$ :at x m/ 2 l 6h ! m"oy 6live ? way4 ,judd's mom's closet look$ l a de"p;t /ore4 ,%oes1 slacks1 bl|ses1 blaz}s1 dresses1 belts1 y "n x4 ,%e _h be5 s}i|s :5 %e'd sd ,judd's mom look$ /yli%1 b ~! k9ds ( ?+s _h n"e be5 h} /yle4 ,%e _h favor$ a hott} look1 a /reet look1 lots ( black & l1!r4
  ,vicki pull$ | a pantsuit t look$ way too old = h}1 b %e imag9$ x )! top untuck$ &! blaz} op54 ,%e held x ag/ h} body & look$ 9 ! mirror on ! back (! b$room door4
  ,vicki 0 />tl$ 0h} {n appe>.e4 ,%e took two /eps backw>d & sat on ! b$1 ! hang}$ pantsuit / press$ ag/ h}4 ,%e />$ at h} gr1sy hair1 h} makeup.s face1 h} pu6y eyes4 ,:5 0 ! la/ "t %e _h pd att5;n 6h} face )|t a load ( makeup & masc>a8 ,%e look$ old & tir$1 yet b} y|?;l;s peek$ "? too4 ,! girl 9 ! mirror look$ sc>$1 tir$1 ha7>d4 ,%e _h = s l;g hi45 t ll girl1 try+ 6make h}f appe> old}4 ,maybe x _h "w$1 b %e didn't want 6appe> old} n{4 ,%e want$ 6be :o %e was1 a f|rte5-ye>-old girl :o _h f9,y -e face-to-face ) ,god4 ,f9,y %e knew :o he 0 & :at he 0 ab4 ,%e _h giv5 h}f 6hm :5 %e look$ j l ?1 & %e didn't want 6*ange4
  ,sure1 %e hop$ %e look$ bett} :5 %e _h _h a ll sleep &a %{} & cl1n hair4 ,b %e 0 f9i%$ try+ 6look l a woman 9 h} tw5ties4 ,no m hid+4 ,no m pret5d+ 6be "s?+ %e wasn't4 ,%e wd we> an old} woman's clo!s1 b %e wd we> !m 9 s* a way t %e 0 h"o/ ) h}f1 ) o!rs1 &) ,god4 ,%e 0 a te5ag} :o _h be5 left 2h1 b %e 0 al "o :o _h se5 :at 0 "r & act$ ~u x4 ,%e 2l;g$ 6,god n{1 & %e wd pres5t h}f 6hm z %e re,y was4
  ,"! 0 no?+ wr;g ) look+ nice1 b %e no l;g} felt ! ne$ 6look h>d1 or sexy1 or old4 ,%e lay back on ! b$ & />$ at ! ceil+1 ,mrs4 ,?ompson's pantsuit drap$ ov} h}4 ,9 a m9ute1 %e decid$1 %e wd get up & h1d =! gue/ room4 ,b )9 seconds %e _h drift$ 96a deep1 deep sleep4
  ,ryan ,daley dove 2h a h$ge acr ! /reet &a block 2h ,lionel's h|se4 ,lionel came *>g+ by1 mutt}+1 8,": >e y1 y ll *ick580
  8,i'm "r "h10 ,ryan answ}$4
  ,lionel ski4$ 6a /op & gl>$ at ,ryan4 8,y >e a *ick560 he sd4 8,look at y6 ,hid+ "! l a ll sc>$ ra2it40
  8,s1 :at am ,i a *ick5 or a ra2it80
  ,lionel %ook 8 h1d1 look+ 4gu/$4 ,ryan f.d x h>d 6believe ? boy 0 only a ye> old} ?an he was4 ,lionel seem$ s m* old}1 s m* m mature4 ,he seem$ l ! k9d ( guy :o cd get al;g on 8 {n1 :o wd /& up 6bad guys l he _h app>5tly j d"o4 ,ryan cdn't imag9e "e do+ "s?+ l t4 ',we've got 6get back "! & get |r bikes10 ,lionel sd4 8,":'d y run (f to1 anyway80
  8,:at d y m1n80 ,ryan sd4 8,y c see ": ,i ran (f to4 ,i'm "r "h1 >5't ,i80
  8,i m1n :y did y run (f80
  8,2c ,i saw y 2+ *as$40
  8,no "o 0 *as+ me40
  8,:y 7 y runn+ !n80
  8,i figur$ if ,i surpris$ !m 0bolt+ | ( "!1 ,i'd h a big 5 h1d />t t !y'd give up 2f !y />t$4 ,!y m/ h40
  8,b1 ,lionel1 !y'll get u :5 we g back =! bikes40
  8,y want 6walk all ! way 6yr h|se80
  8,my h|se8 ,i ?"| we 7 go+ 6/ay "h60
  ,lionel si<$ & told ,ryan ! /ory4 8,s ,i don't ?9k we're /ay+ "h until ,i c get ! police 6?r{ !m |40
  8,s call ! police40
  8,maybe ,i w4 ,b don't y ?9k !y h 5 6worry ab "r n{1 )|t try+ 6figure | :o {ns my h|se & :o %d 2 "! or %dn't8 ,i m1n1 if ! cops f9d | ,i'm ?irte5 &! only "o left 9 my family1 !y'll try 6put me 9 "s orphanage or "s?+40
  8,orphanage80 ,ryan rep1t$4 ,no way4 ,he _h n"e he>d any?+ gd ab an orphanage4 ,talk ab a ni<tm>e4 ,wor/ ( all1 :5 he ?"| ab x1 he r1liz$ t n{ he 0 an orphan4 ,2+ ab&on$ 0his p>5ts _h alw be5 8 bi7e/ fe>1 & he didn't ?9k t 0 j 2c he 0 an only *4 ,he 0 sure he wd h felt t way ev5 if he _h _h bro!rs & si/}s1 & t made hm wond} if ,lionel felt ! same4 ,he _h to1 didn't he8 ,b he 2liev$ ? 0 all ab ,jesus & h1v5 & "ey?+1 s maybe ,lionel 0 h&l+ x bett}4 ,at l1/ t's ! way x seem$ 6,ryan4
  ,lionel al seem$ m 9t}e/$ 9 gett+ bikes4 ,i want my bike too10 ,ryan sd1 8b ,i'm / n go+ 9side my h|se40
  8,man1 y've got 6get ov} t10 ,lionel sd4 8,y c't sleep 9 a t5t ! re/ ( yr life1 & ,i "k ,i'm n go+ to40
  8,i j c't g 9 my h|se10 ,ryan sd4 8,:at >e we go+ 6d80
  8,we're go+ 6/>t 0gett+ |r bikes4 ,n{ -e on40
  ,lionel left 8 du6el bag 9 ! bu%es1 & ,ryan foll{$ hm z he crept back t{>d 8 h|se4 ,! two guys :o knew ,&r`e 7 / casu,y go+ 9 & -+ | (! h|se1 unload+ /uff f _! van4 ,lionel sd1 8,let's wait until !y've j c>ri$ "s /uff in1 !n we c run up1 get |r bikes1 & spe$ away40
  8,& :at if !y see u & -e af u 9 t c> or t van80
  8,:at if ,*ick5  ,ll 0 "r &! sky falls in80 ,lionel sd4 8,y've got 6le>n 6take "s *.es1 man40
  ,ryan figur$ t 0 suppos$ 6be funny1 b he didn't lau<4 ,lionel 0 mak+ hm feel l a wuss4 ,he _h n"e felt t way 2f4 ,he 0 an a?lete1 a t|< guy4 ,kids look$ up 6hm1 respect$ hm4 ,:at wd !y ?9k ( hm n{1 runn+ away & hid+8
  ,b h{ 0 he suppos$ 6act8 ,! wor/ ?+ t cd happ5 6a kid _h happ5$ 6hm4 ,8 p>5ts 7 d1d & g"o1 & he _h no "o left4 ,any"t any?+ bad _h happ5$ 9 8 life 2f1 8 p>5ts _h be5 "! = hm4 ,:5 8 dad 0 g"o 6"s sales tra9+ s*ool = ?ree mon?s "o "t1 8 "m _h be5 "!4 ,:5 %e 0 9 ! hospital = back surg}y1 8 dad _h be5 "!4 ,nei cd d "ey?+ ! o!r _h alw d"o ) hm &= hm1 b !y tri$4 ,& !y _h made d until ! o!r p>5t 0 home & back 96! r|t9e4
  ,b :at 0 he suppos$ 6d n{8 ,bo? p>5ts 7 g"o1 & he cdn't talk 6ei ( !m ab ! loss (! o!r4
  ,he felt al"o 9 ! _w4 ,he re,y didn't want 6irritate ,lionel4 ,if he lo/ ? fr too1 ": wd he be8 8,,ok0 ,ryan sd f9,y4 8,:5 !y g 9 ! h|se1 !y've be5 /ay+ 9side =a c|ple m9utes 2f !y -e back |4 ,z soon z ! scre5 door slams 2h !m1 we g4 ,t %d give u 5 "t40
  ,lionel look$ at hm1 & ,ryan ?"| he actu,y detect$ admir,n1 or at l1/ respect1 on 8 face4 8,all "r10 ,lionel sd4 8,n{ y're ?9k+4 ,let's g40
  ,!y cr|*$ 2h a corn} (! h|se & pe}$ at ! door4 ,! two came |1 lau<+ & jok+4 8,too easy1 man10 "o sd4 8,? is too easy4 ,easy & sweet4 ,wait till ,&r`e gets "h40
  ,f ! front1 ,ryan he>d ! two grunt+ z !y dra7$ "s?+ h1vy f ! van4 8,t's ! la/ ( x1 !n80 he he>d4 8,yup1 t's all4 ,set x d{n a second s ,i c kick t door %ut40
  ,ryan he>d ! s.d (! van door clos+4 ,lionel & ,ryan peek$ | z ! two lu7$ a small c|* up 6! door at ! side (! h|se4 ,! two fum#d )! door1 f9,y holl}+ 9side = 8"o ( y lazy slobs 6get ? door = u60
  ,a "y woman came runn+4 8,j ask1 y two4 ,i'm "h & ,i'm n lazy60
  ,!y mov$ 96! h|se )! c|*1 &! scre5 door slapp$ %ut 2h !m4 ,lionel took (f l a %ot1 & ,ryan 0 "r 2h hm4 ,fa/ z he _h be5 = ye>s1 he cdn't keep up ) ,lionel4 ,lionel m/ h be5 re,y sc>$ or re,y fa/ 2c he 0 mov+ l ! w9d4
  ,!y r1*$ ! bikes1 & ,lionel 0 qkly up on 8 & rid+ (f 9 ! direc;n ( 8 hi45 du6el bag4 ,ryan saw 8 {n big bag on ! gr.d next 6his bike & 3sid}$ l1v+ x "r "!4 ,h{ wd he h&le x & ride fa/ too8 ,b he cdn't l1ve x4 ,he ne$$ "ey?+ 9 "!4 ,& 2ss1 ~? guys w}5't ev5 -+ back | 6! van1 7 !y8 ,_hn't !y sd t 0 all ( x8
  ,ryan b5t 6grab ! bag & sl{ly m.t$ 8 bike1 hop+ 6make no noise or draw any att5;n 6hmf4 ,he _h 6keep "o foot on ! gr.d = bal.e z he sl{ly wob#d (f1 & once he _h 6-e 6a full /op 6%ift ! wei<t (! bag4 ,j z he 0 />t+ 6ga9 a ll mo;tum1 t sc>y t+ly feel+ ( fe> rac$ up & d{n 8 back4 ,lionel 0 r1*+ d{n 6grab 8 {n bag f ! bu%es a block away1 b ,ryan 0 sure he he>d foot/eps & %|t+ 2h hm4
