             ,,*APT] ,,VII

  ,! H>D] ,TOM TRI$ 6FA/5 8 M9D ON 8
BOOK1 ! M 8 ID1S W&]$4 ,S AT LA/1 )A SI<
&A YAWN1 HE GAVE X UP4 ,X SEEM$ 6HM T !
NOON RECESS WD N"E -E4 ,! AIR 0 UTT]LY
D1D4 ,"! 0 N A BR1? /IRR+4 ,X 0 !
SLEEPIE/ ( SLEEPY "DS4 ,! DR[S+ MURMUR (
! FIVE & TW5TY /UDY+ S*OL>S SOO!D ! S\L
L ! SPELL T IS 9 ! MURMUR ( BEES4 ,AWAY
(F 9 ! FLAM+ SUN%9E1 ,C>DIFF ,HILL LIFT$
XS S(T GRE5 SIDES "? A %IMM]+ VEIL (
H1T1 T9T$ )! PURPLE ( 4T.E2 A FEW BIRDS
FLOAT$ ON LAZY W+ HI< 9 ! AIR2 NO O!R
LIV+ ?+ 0 VISI# B "S C[S1 & !Y 7 ASLEEP4
,TOM'S HE>T A*$ 6BE FREE1 OR ELSE 6H
"S?+ ( 9T]E/ 6D 6PASS ! DRE>Y "T4 ,8 H&
W&]$ 96HIS POCKET & 8 FACE LIT UP )A GL[
( GRATITUDE T 0 PRAY]1 ?\< HE DID N "K
X4 ,!N FURTIVELY ! P]CUS.N-CAP BOX CAME
\4 ,HE REL1S$ ! TICK & PUT HM ON ! L;G
FLAT DESK4 ,! CR1TURE PROBABLY GL[$ )A
GRATITUDE T AM.T$ 6PRAY]1 TOO1 AT ?
MO;T1 B X 0 PREMATURE3 = :5 HE />T$
?ANK;LLY 6TRAVEL (F1 ,TOM TURN$ HM ASIDE
)A P9 & MADE HM TAKE A NEW DIREC;N4
  ,TOM'S BOSOM FR SAT NEXT HM1 SU6]+ J Z
,TOM _H BE51 & N[ HE 0 DEEPLY &
GRATE;LLY 9T]E/$ 9 ? 5T]TA9;T 9 AN
9/ANT4 ,? BOSOM FR 0 ,JOE ,H>P]4 ,! TWO
BOYS 7 SWORN FRS ALL ! WEEK1 & EMBATTL$
5EMIES ON ,SATUR"DS4 ,JOE TOOK A P9 \ (
8 LAPEL & 2GAN 6ASSI/ 9 EX]CIS+ !
PRISON]4 ,! SPORT GREW 9 9T]E/ MO;TLY4
,SOON ,TOM SD T !Y 7 9T]F]+ ) EA* O!R1 &
NEI GETT+ ! FULLE/ B5EFIT (! TICK4 ,S HE
PUT ,JOE'S SLATE ON ! DESK & DREW A L9E
D[N ! MI4LE ( X F TOP 6BOTTOM4
  8,N[10 SD HE1 8Z L;G Z HE IS ON YR
SIDE Y C /IR HM UP & ,I'LL LET HM AL"O2
B IF Y LET HM GET AWAY & GET ON MY SIDE1
Y'RE 6L1VE HM AL"O Z L;G Z ,I C KEEP HM
F CROSS+ OV]40
  8,ALL "R1 G AH1D2 />T HM UP40
  ,! TICK ESCAP$ F ,TOM1 PRES5TLY1 &
CROSS$ ! EQUATOR4 ,JOE H>ASS$ HM A:ILE1
& !N HE GOT AWAY & CROSS$ BACK AG4 ,?
*ANGE ( BASE O3URR$ (T54 ,:ILE "O BOY 0
WORRY+ ! TICK ) ABSORB+ 9T]E/1 ! O!R WD
LOOK ON ) 9T]E/ Z /R;G1 ! TWO H1DS B[$
TGR OV] ! SLATE1 &! TWO S\LS D1D 6ALL
?+S ELSE4 ,AT LA/ LUCK SEEM$ 6SETTLE &
ABIDE ) ,JOE4 ,! TICK TRI$ ?1 T1 &! O!R
C\RSE1 & GOT Z EXCIT$ & Z ANXI\S Z !
BOYS !MVS1 B "T & AG J Z HE WD H VICTORY
9 8 V GRASP1 S 6SP1K1 & ,TOM'S F+]S WD 2
TWIT*+ 62G91 ,JOE'S P9 WD DEFTLY H1D HM
(F1 & KEEP POSSES.N4 ,AT LA/ ,TOM CD /&
X NO L;G]4 ,! TEMPT,N 0 TOO /R;G4 ,S HE
R1*$ \ & L5T A H& ) 8 P94 ,JOE 0 ANGRY 9
A MO;T4 ,SD HE3
  8,TOM1 Y LET HM AL"O40
  8,I ONLY J WANT 6/IR HM UP A LL1
,JOE40
  8,NO1 SIR1 X A9'T FAIR2 Y J LET HM
AL"O40
  8,BLAME X1 ,I A9'T GO+ 6/IR HM M*40
  8,LET HM AL"O1 ,I TELL Y40
  8,I WON'T60
  8,Y %--HE'S ON MY SIDE (! L9E40
  8,LOOK "H1 ,JOE ,H>P]1 ^: IS T TICK80
  8,I DON'T C>E ^: TICK HE IS--HE'S ON
MY SIDE (! L9E1 & Y %A'N'T T\* HM40
  8,WELL1 ,I'LL J BET ,I W1 ?\<4 ,HE'S
MY TICK & ,I'LL D :AT ,I BLAME PL1SE )
HM1 OR DIE60
  ,A TREM5D\S :ACK CAME D[N ON ,TOM'S
%\LD]S1 & XS DUPLICATE ON ,JOE'S2 &=!
SPACE ( TWO M9UTES ! DU/ 3T9U$ 6FLY F !
TWO JACKETS &! :OLE S*OOL 65JOY X4 ,!
BOYS _H BE5 TOO ABSORB$ 6NOTICE ! HU% T
_H /OL5 ^U ! S*OOL A:ILE 2F :5 ! MA/]
CAME TIPTOE+ D[N ! ROOM & /OOD OV] !M4
,HE _H 3TEMPLAT$ A GD "P (! P]=M.E 2F HE
3TRIBUT$ 8 BIT ( V>IETY 6X4
  ,:5 S*OOL BROKE UP AT NOON1 ,TOM FLEW
6,BECKY ,?AT*]1 & :ISP]$ 9 H] E>3
  8,PUT ON YR BONNET & LET ON Y'RE GO+
HOME2 & :5 Y GET 6! CORN]1 GIVE ! RE/ (
'EM ! SLIP1 & TURN D[N "? ! LANE & -E
BACK4 ,I'LL G ! O!R WAY & -E X OV] 'EM !
SAME WAY40
  ,S ! "O W5T (F ) "O GR\P ( S*OL>S1 &!
O!R ) ANO!R4 ,9 A LL :ILE ! TWO MET AT !
BOTTOM (! LANE1 & :5 !Y R1*$ ! S*OOL !Y
_H X ALL 6!MVS4 ,!N !Y SAT TGR1 )A SLATE
2F !M1 & ,TOM GAVE ,BECKY ! P5CIL & HELD
H] H& 9 HIS1 GUID+ X1 & S CR1T$ ANO!R
SURPRIS+ H\SE4 ,:5 ! 9T]E/ 9 >T 2GAN
6WANE1 ! TWO FELL 6TALK+4 ,TOM 0 SWIMM+
9 BLISS4 ,HE SD3
  8,D Y LOVE RATS80
  8,NO6 ,I HATE !M60
  8,WELL1 ,I D1 TOO--,,LIVE "OS4 ,B ,I
M1N D1D "OS1 6SW+ R.D YR H1D )A /R+40
  8,NO1 ,I DON'T C>E = RATS M*1 ANYWAY4
,:AT ,I L IS *EW+-GUM40
  8,OH1 ,I %D SAY S6 ,I WI% ,I _H "S
N[40
  8,D Y8 ,I'VE GOT "S4 ,I'LL LET Y *EW X
A:ILE1 B Y M/ GIVE X BACK 6ME40
  ,T 0 AGREEA#1 S !Y *EW$ X TURN AB1 &
DANGL$ _! LEGS AG/ ! B5* 9 EXCESS (
3T5T;T4
  8,WAS Y "E AT A CIRCUS80 SD ,TOM4
  8,YES1 & MY PA'S GO+ 6TAKE ME AG "S
"T1 IF ,I'M GD40
  8,I BE5 6! CIRCUS ?REE OR F\R "TS--
LOTS ( "TS4 ,*UR* A9'T %UCKS 6A CIRCUS4
,"!'S ?+S GO+ ON AT A CIRCUS ALL ! "T4
,I'M GO+ 6BE A CL[N 9 A CIRCUS :5 ,I GR[
UP40
  8,OH1 >E Y6 ,T W 2 NICE4 ,!Y'RE S
LOVELY1 ALL SPOTT$ UP40
  8,YES1 T'S S4 ,& !Y GET SLA!RS ( M"OY
--MO/ A DOLL> A "D1 ,B5 ,ROG]S SAYS4
,SAY1 ,BECKY1 0 Y "E 5GAG$80
  8,:AT'S T80
  8,:Y1 5GAG$ 6BE M>RI$40
  8,NO40
  8,WD Y L TO80
  8,I RECKON S4 ,I DON'T "K4 ,:AT IS X
L80
  8,L8 ,:Y X A9'T L ANY?+4 ,Y ONLY J
TELL A BOY Y WON'T "E H ANYBODY B HM1 "E
"E "E1 & !N Y KISS & T'S ALL4 ,ANYBODY C
D X40
  8,KISS8 ,:AT D Y KISS =80
  8,:Y1 T1 Y "K1 IS TO--WELL1 !Y ALW D
T40
  8,"EYBODY80
  8,:Y1 YES1 "EYBODY T'S 9 LOVE ) EA*
O!R4 ,D Y REMEMB] :AT ,I WROTE ON !
SLATE80
  8,YE--YES40
  8,:AT 0 X80
  8,I %A'N'T TELL Y40
  8,% ,I TELL ,,Y80
  8,YE--YES--B "S O!R "T40
  8,NO1 N[40
  8,NO1 N N[--TO-MORR[40
  8,OH1 NO1 ,,N[4 ,PL1SE1 ,BECKY--,I'LL
:ISP] X1 ,I'LL :ISP] X "E S EASY40
  ,BECKY HESITAT+1 ,TOM TOOK SIL;E =
3S5T1 & PASS$ 8 >M AB H] WAI/ & :ISP]$ !
TALE "E S S(TLY1 ) 8 M\? CLOSE 6H] E>4
,& !N HE A4$3
  8,N[ Y :ISP] X 6ME--J ! SAME40
  ,%E RESI/$1 =A :ILE1 & !N SD3
  8,Y TURN YR FACE AWAY S Y C'T SEE1 &
!N ,I W4 ,B Y M/N'T "E TELL ANYBODY--,,W
Y1 ,TOM8 ,N[ Y WON'T1 ,,W Y80
  8,NO1 9DE$1 9DE$ ,I WON'T4 ,N[1
,BECKY40
  ,HE TURN$ 8 FACE AWAY4 ,%E B5T TIMIDLY
>.D TILL H] BR1? /IRR$ 8 CURLS & :ISP]$1
8,I--LOVE--Y60
  ,!N %E SPRANG AWAY & RAN >.D & >.D !
DESKS & B5*ES1 ) ,TOM AF H]1 & TOOK
REFUGE 9 A CORN] AT LA/1 ) H] LL :ITE
APRON 6H] FACE4 ,TOM CLASP$ H] AB H]
NECK & PL1D$3
  8,N[1 ,BECKY1 X'S ALL D"O--ALL OV] B !
KISS4 ,DON'T Y 2 AFRAID ( T--X A9'T
ANY?+ AT ALL4 ,PL1SE1 ,BECKY40 ,& HE
TU7$ AT H] APRON &! H&S4
  ,0& 0%E GAVE UP1 & LET H] H&S DROP2 H]
FACE1 ALL GL[+ )! /RU7LE1 CAME UP &
SUBMITT$4 ,TOM KISS$ ! R$ LIPS & SD3
  8,N[ X'S ALL D"O1 ,BECKY4 ,& ALW AF ?1
Y "K1 Y A9'T "E 6LOVE ANYBODY B ME1 & Y
A9'T "E 6M>RY ANYBODY B ME1 "E N"E &
="E4 ,W Y80
  8,NO1 ,I'LL N"E LOVE ANYBODY B Y1
,TOM1 & ,I'LL N"E M>RY ANYBODY B Y--& Y
A9'T 6"E M>RY ANYBODY B ME1 EI40
  8,C]TA9LY4 ,( C\RSE4 ,T'S ,,"P ( X4 ,&
ALW -+ 6S*OOL OR :5 WE'RE GO+ HOME1 Y'RE
6WALK ) ME1 :5 "! A9'T ANYBODY LOOK+--&
Y *OOSE ME & ,I *OOSE Y AT "PIES1 2C T'S
! WAY Y D :5 Y'RE 5GAG$40
  8,X'S S NICE4 ,I N"E HE>D ( X 2F40
  8,OH1 X'S "E S GAY6 ,:Y1 ME & ,AMY
,LAWR;E--0
  ,! BIG EYES TOLD ,TOM 8 BL"U & HE
/OPP$1 3FUS$4
  8,OH1 ,TOM6 ,!N ,I A9'T ! F/ Y'VE "E
BE5 5GAG$ TO60
  ,! * 2GAN 6CRY4 ,TOM SD3
  8,OH1 DON'T CRY1 ,BECKY1 ,I DON'T C>E
= H] ANY M40
  8,YES1 Y D1 ,TOM--Y "K Y D40
  ,TOM TRI$ 6PUT 8 >M AB H] NECK1 B %E
PU%$ HM AWAY & TURN$ H] FACE 6! WALL1 &
W5T ON CRY+4 ,TOM TRI$ AG1 ) SOO?+ ^WS 9
8 M\?1 & 0 REPULS$ AG4 ,!N 8 PRIDE 0 UP1
& HE /RODE AWAY & W5T \TSIDE4 ,HE /OOD
AB1 RE/.S & UNEASY1 =A :ILE1 GLANC+ AT !
DOOR1 E N[ & !N1 HOP+ %E WD REP5T & -E
6F9D HM4 ,B %E DID N4 ,!N HE 2GAN 6FEEL
BADLY & FE> T HE 0 9 ! WR;G4 ,X 0 A H>D
/RU7LE ) HM 6MAKE NEW ADV.ES1 N[1 B HE
N]V$ HMF 6X & 5T]$4 ,%E 0 / /&+ BACK "!
9 ! CORN]1 SO2+1 ) H] FACE 6! WALL4
,TOM'S HE>T SMOTE HM4 ,HE W5T 6H] & /OOD
A MO;T1 N "K+ EXACTLY H[ 6PROCE$4 ,!N HE
SD HESITAT+LY3
  8,BECKY1 ,I--,I DON'T C>E = ANYBODY B
Y40
  ,NO REPLY--B SOBS4
  8,BECKY0--PL1D+LY4 8,BECKY1 WON'T Y
SAY "S?+80
  ,M SOBS4
  ,TOM GOT \ 8 *IEFE/ JEWEL1 A BRASS
KNOB F ! TOP ( AN &IRON1 & PASS$ X >.D
H] S T %E CD SEE X1 & SD3
  8,PL1SE1 ,BECKY1 WON'T Y TAKE X80
  ,%E /RUCK X 6! FLOOR4 ,!N ,TOM M>*$ \
(! H\SE & OV] ! HILLS & F> AWAY1 6RETURN
6S*OOL NO M T "D4 ,PRES5TLY ,BECKY 2GAN
6SUSPECT4 ,%E RAN 6! DOOR2 HE 0 N 9
SI<T2 %E FLEW >.D 6! PLAY-Y>D2 HE 0 N
"!4 ,!N %E CALL$3
  8,TOM6 ,-E BACK1 ,TOM60
  ,%E LI/5$ 9T5TLY1 B "! 0 NO ANSW]4 ,%E
_H NO -PANIONS B SIL;E & L"OLI;S4 ,S %E
SAT D[N 6CRY AG & UPBRAID H]F2 & 0? "T !
S*OL>S 2GAN 6GA!R AG1 & %E _H 6HIDE H]
GRIEFS & / H] BROK5 HE>T & TAKE UP !
CROSS (A L;G1 DRE>Y1 A*+ AFN1 ) N"O AM;G
! /RANG]S AB H] 6EX*ANGE SORR[S )4


