             ,,*APT] ,,XII

  ,"O (! R1SONS :Y ,TOM'S M9D _H DRIFT$
AWAY F XS SECRET TR\#S WAS1 T X _H F.D A
NEW & WEI<TY MATT] 69T]E/ XF AB4 ,BECKY
,?AT*] _H /OPP$ -+ 6S*OOL4
  ,TOM _H /RU7L$ ) 8 PRIDE A FEW "DS1 &
TRI$ TO 8:I/LE H] D[N ! W9D10 B FAIL$4
,HE 2GAN 6F9D HMF HANG+ >.D H] "F'S
H\SE1 NI<TS1 & FEEL+ V MIS]A#4 ,%E 0
ILL4 ,:AT IF %E %D DIE6 ,"! 0 4TRAC;N 9
! ?"\4 ,HE NO L;G] TOOK AN 9T]E/ 9 W>1
NOR EV5 9 PIRACY4 ,! *>M ( LIFE 0 G"O2
"! 0 NO?+ B DRE>I;S LEFT4 ,HE PUT 8 HOOP
AWAY1 & 8 BAT2 "! 0 NO JOY 9 !M ANY M4
,8 AUNT 0 3C]N$4 ,%E 2GAN 6TRY ALL MANN]
( REM$IES ON HM4 ,%E 0 "O ( ^? P :O >E
9FATUAT$ ) PAT5T M$IC9ES & ALL NEW-
FANGL$ ME?ODS ( PRODUC+ H1L? OR M5D+ X4
,%E 0 AN 9VET]ATE EXP]I;T] 9 ^! ?+S4 ,:5
"S?+ FRE% 9 ? L9E CAME \ %E 0 9 A FEV]1
"R AWAY1 6TRY X2 N ON H]F1 = %E 0 N"E
AIL+1 B ON ANYBODY ELSE T CAME H&Y4 ,%E
0 A SUBSCRIB] = ALL ! 8,H1L?0 P]IODICALS
& PHR5OLOGICAL FRAUDS2 &! SOLEMN IGNOR.E
!Y 7 9FLAT$ ) 0 BR1? 6H] NO/RILS4 ,ALL !
8ROT0 !Y 3TA9$ AB V5TIL,N1 & H[ 6G 6B$1
& H[ 6GET UP1 & :AT 6EAT1 & :AT 6DR9K1 &
H[ M* EX]CISE 6TAKE1 & :AT FRAME ( M9D
6KEEP "O'S SELF IN1 & :AT SORT ( CLO?+
6WE>1 0 ALL GOSPEL 6H]1 & %E N"E OBS]V$
T H] H1L?-J\RNALS (! CURR5T MON?
CU/OM>ILY UPSET "EY?+ !Y _H RECOMM5D$ !
MON? 2F4 ,%E 0 Z SIMPLE-HE>T$ & H"O/ Z !
"D 0 L;G1 & S %E 0 AN EASY VICTIM4 ,%E
GA!R$ TGR H] QUACK P]IODICALS & H] QUACK
M$IC9ES1 & ?US >M$ ) D1?1 W5T AB ON H]
PALE HORSE1 METAPHORIC,Y SP1K+1 ) 8HELL
FOLL[+ AF40 ,B %E N"E SUSPECT$ T %E 0 N
AN ANGEL ( H1L+ &! BALM ( ,GIL1D 9
4GUISE1 6! SU6]+ NEI<BORS4
  ,! WAT] TR1T;T 0 NEW1 N[1 & ,TOM'S L[
3DI;N 0 A W9DFALL 6H]4 ,%E _H HM \ AT
"DLI<T E MORN+1 /OOD HM UP 9 ! WOOD%$ &
DR[N$ HM )A DELUGE ( COLD WAT]2 !N %E
SCRU2$ HM D[N )A T[EL L A FILE1 & S BR"\
HM TO2 !N %E ROLL$ HM UP 9 A WET %EET &
PUT HM AWAY "U BLANKETS TILL %E SW1T$ 8
S\L CL1N & 8! YELL[ /A9S ( X CAME "? 8
PORES0--Z ,TOM SD4
  ,YET NOT)/&+ ALL ?1 ! BOY GREW M & M
MELAN*OLY & PALE & DEJECT$4 ,%E A4$ HOT
BA?S1 SITZ BA?S1 %[] BA?S1 & PLUNGES4 ,!
BOY REMA9$ Z 4MAL Z A HE>SE4 ,%E 2GAN
6ASSI/ ! WAT] )A SLIM OATM1L DIET &
BLI/]- PLA/]S4 ,%E CALCULAT$ 8 CAPAC;Y Z
%E WD A JUG'S1 & FILL$ HM UP E "D )
QUACK CURE-ALLS4
  ,TOM _H 2COME 9DI6]5T 6P]SECU;N 0? "T4
,? PHASE FILL$ ! OLD LADY'S HE>T )
3/]N,N4 ,? 9DI6];E M/ 2 BROK5 UP AT ANY
CO/4 ,N[ %E HE>D ( ,PA9-KILL] =! F/ "T4
,%E ORD]$ A LOT AT ONCE4 ,%E TA/$ X & 0
FILL$ ) GRATITUDE4 ,X 0 SIMPLY FIRE 9 A
LIQUID =M4 ,%E DROPP$ ! WAT] TR1T;T &
"EY?+ ELSE1 & P9N$ H] FAI? 6,PA9-KILL]4
,%E GAVE ,TOM A T1SPOON;L & WAT*$ )!
DEEPE/ ANXIETY =! RESULT4 ,H] TR\#S 7
9/ANTLY AT RE/1 H] S\L AT P1CE AG2 =!
8IN- DI6];E0 0 BROK5 UP4 ,! BOY CD N H
%[N A WILD]1 HE>TI] 9T]E/1 IF %E _H
BUILT A FIRE "U HM4
  ,TOM FELT T X 0 "T 6WAKE UP2 ? SORT (
LIFE MI<T 2 ROMANTIC 5\<1 9 8 BLI<T$
3DI;N1 B X 0 GETT+ 6H TOO LL S5TI;T &
TOO M* 4TRACT+ V>IETY AB X4 ,S HE ?"\
OV] V>I\S PLANS = RELIEF1 & F9,Y HIT PON
T ( PROFESS+ 6BE FOND ( ,PA9-KILL]4 ,HE
ASK$ = X S (T5 T HE 2CAME A NUIS.E1 & 8
AUNT 5D$ 0TELL+ HM 6HELP HMF & QUIT
BO!R+ H]4 ,IF X _H BE5 ,SID1 %E WD H _H
NO MISGIV+S 6ALLOY H] DELI<T2 B S9CE X 0
,TOM1 %E WAT*$ ! BOTTLE CL&E/9ELY4 ,%E
F.D T ! M$IC9E DID RE,Y DIM9I%1 B X DID
N O3UR 6H] T ! BOY 0 M5D+ ! H1L? (A
CRACK 9 ! SITT+-ROOM FLOOR ) X4
  ,"O "D ,TOM 0 9 ! ACT ( DOS+ ! CRACK
:5 8 AUNT'S YELL[ CAT CAME AL;G1 PURR+1
EY- 9G ! T1SPOON AV>ICI\SLY1 & BE7+ =A
TA/E4 ,TOM SD3
  8,DON'T ASK = X UN.S Y WANT X1 ,PET]40
  ,B ,PET] SIGNIFI$ T HE DID WANT X4
  8,Y BETT] MAKE SURE40
  ,PET] 0 SURE4
  8,N[ Y'VE ASK$ = X1 & ,I'LL GIVE X 6Y1
2C "! A9'T ANY?+ M1N AB ME2 B IF Y F9D Y
DON'T L X1 Y M/N'T BLAME ANYBODY B YR [N
SELF40
  ,PET] 0 AGREEA#4 ,S ,TOM PRI$ 8 M\?
OP5 & P\R$ D[N ! ,PA9-KILL]4 ,PET]
SPRANG A C\PLE ( Y>DS 9 ! AIR1 & !N
DELIV]$ A W>-:OOP & SET (F R.D & R.D !
ROOM1 BANG+ AG/ FURNITURE1 UPSETT+ FL[]-
POTS1 & MAK+ G5]AL HAVOC4 ,NEXT HE ROSE
ON 8 H9D FEET & PR.ED >.D1 9 A FR5ZY (
5JOY;T1 ) 8 H1D OV] 8 %\LD] & 8 VOICE
PROCLAIM+ 8 UNAPP1SA# HAPPI;S4 ,!N HE
W5T TE>+ >.D ! H\SE AG SPR1D+ *AOS &
DE/RUC;N 9 8 PA?4 ,AUNT ,POLLY 5T]$ 9 "T
6SEE HM ?R[ A FEW D\# SUMM]SETS1 DELIV]
A F9AL MI<TY HURRAH1 & SAIL "? ! OP5
W9D[1 C>RY+ ! RE/ (! FL[]-POTS ) HM4 ,!
OLD LADY /OOD PETRIFI$ ) A/ONI%;T1 PE]+
OV] H] GLASSES2 ,TOM LAY ON ! FLOOR
EXPIR+ ) LAU<T]4
  8,TOM1 :AT ON E>? AILS T CAT80
  8,I DON'T "K1 AUNT10 GASP$ ! BOY4
  8,:Y1 ,I N"E SEE ANY?+ L X4 ,:AT DID
MAKE HM ACT S80
  8,DE$ ,I DON'T "K1 ,AUNT ,POLLY2 CATS
ALW ACT S :5 !Y'RE HAV+ A GD "T40
  8,!Y D1 D !Y80 ,"! 0 "S?+ 9 ! T"O T
MADE ,TOM APPREH5SIVE4
  8,YES'M4 ,T IS1 ,I 2LIEVE !Y D40
  8,Y ,,D80
  8,YES'M40
  ,! OLD LADY 0 B5D+ D[N1 ,TOM WAT*+1 )
9T]E/ EMPHASIZ$ 0ANXIETY4 ,TOO LATE HE
DIV9$ H] 8DRIFT40 ,! H&LE (! TELLTALE
T1SPOON 0 VISI# "U ! B$-VAL.E4 ,AUNT
,POLLY TOOK X1 HELD X UP4 ,TOM W9C$1 &
DROPP$ 8 EYES4 ,AUNT ,POLLY RAIS$ HM 0!
USUAL H&LE--HIS E>--& CRACK$ 8 H1D S.DLY
) H] ?IM#4
  8,N[1 SIR1 :AT DID Y WANT 6TR1T T POOR
DUMB B1/ S1 =80
  8,I D"O X \ ( P;Y = HM--2C HE _HN'T
ANY AUNT40
  8,_HN'T ANY AUNT6--Y NUMSKULL4 ,:AT
HAS T GOT 6D ) X80
  8,H1PS4 ,2C IF HE'D _H "O %E'D A BURNT
HM \ H]F6 ,%E'D A ROA/$ 8 B[ELS \ ( HM
'?\T ANY M FEEL+ ?AN IF HE 0 A HUMAN60
  ,AUNT ,POLLY FELT A SU45 PANG (
REMORSE4 ,? 0 PUTT+ ! ?+ 9 A NEW LI<T2
:AT 0 CRUELTY 6A CAT ,,MI<T 2 CRUELTY 6A
BOY1 TOO4 ,%E 2GAN 6S(T52 %E FELT SORRY4
,H] EYES WAT]$ A LL1 & %E PUT H] H& ON
,TOM'S H1D & SD G5TLY3
  8,I 0 M1N+ =! BE/1 ,TOM4 ,&1 ,TOM1 X
,,DID D Y GD40
  ,TOM LOOK$ UP 9 H] FACE ) J A P]CEPTI#
TW9KLE PEEP+ "? 8 GRAV;Y4
  8,I "K Y 0 M1N+ =! BE/1 AUNTY1 & S 0
,I ) ,PET]4 ,X D"O ,,HM GD1 TOO4 ,I N"E
SEE HM GET >.D S S9CE--0
  8,OH1 G 'L;G ) Y1 ,TOM1 2F Y A7RAVATE
ME AG4 ,& Y TRY & SEE IF Y C'T 2 A GD
BOY1 = ONCE1 & Y NE$N'T TAKE ANY M
M$IC9E40
  ,TOM R1*$ S*OOL AH1D ( "T4 ,X 0 NOTIC$
T ? /RANGE ?+ _H BE5 O3URR+ E "D
LATT]LY4 ,& N[1 Z USUAL ( LATE1 HE HUNG
AB ! GATE (! S*OOLY>D 9/1D ( PLAY+ ) 8
-RADES4 ,HE 0 SICK1 HE SD1 & HE LOOK$ X4
,HE TRI$ 6SEEM 6BE LOOK+ "EY": B :I!R HE
RE,Y 0 LOOK+--D[N ! ROAD4 ,PRES5TLY
,JEFF ,?AT*] HOVE 9 SI<T1 & ,TOM'S FACE
LI<T$2 HE GAZ$ A MO;T1 & !N TURN$
SORR[;LLY AWAY4 ,:5 ,JEFF >RIV$1 ,TOM
A3O/$ HM2 & 8L$ UP0 W>ILY 6OPPORTUNITIES
= REM>K AB ,BECKY1 B ! GI4Y LAD N"E CD
SEE ! BAIT4 ,TOM WAT*$ & WAT*$1 HOP+
:5"E A FRISK+ FROCK CAME 9 SI<T1 & HAT+
! [N] ( X Z SOON Z HE SAW %E 0 N ! "R
"O4 ,AT LA/ FROCKS C1S$ 6APPE>1 & HE
DROPP$ HOPE.SLY 96! DUMPS2 HE 5T]$ !
EMPTY S*OOLH\SE & SAT D[N 6SU6]4 ,!N "O
M FROCK PASS$ 9 AT ! GATE1 & ,TOM'S HE>T
GAVE A GRT B.D4 ,! NEXT 9/ANT HE 0 \1 &
8GO+ ON0 L AN ,9DIAN2 YELL+1 LAU<+1 *AS+
BOYS1 JUMP+ OV] ! F;E AT RISK ( LIFE &
LIMB1 ?R[+ H&SPR+S1 /&+ ON 8 H1D--DO+
ALL ! H]OIC ?+S HE CD 3CV (1 & KEEP+ A
FURTIVE EYE \1 ALL ! :ILE1 6SEE IF
,BECKY ,?AT*] 0 NOTIC+4 ,B %E SEEM$ 6BE
UNCONSCI\S ( X ALL2 %E N"E LOOK$4 ,CD X
2 POSSI# T %E 0 N AW>E T HE 0 "!8 ,HE
C>RI$ 8 EXPLOITS 6H] IMM VIC9;Y2 CAME
W>-:OOP+ >.D1 SNAT*$ A BOY'S CAP1 HURL$
X 6! RO( (! S*OOLH\SE1 BROKE "? A GR\P (
BOYS1 TUMBL+ !M 9 E DIREC;N1 & FELL
SPRAWL+1 HMF1 "U ,BECKY'S NOSE1 ALM
UPSETT+ H]--& %E TURN$1 ) H] NOSE 9 !
AIR1 & HE HE>D H] SAY3 8,MF6 "S P ?9K
!Y'RE MI<TY SM>T--ALW %[+ (F60
  ,TOM'S *EEKS BURN$4 ,HE GA!R$ HMF UP &
SN1K$ (F1 CRU%$ & CRE/FALL54


