             ,,*APT] ,,III

  ,TOM PRES5T$ HMF 2F ,AUNT ,POLLY1 :O 0
SITT+ 0AN OP5 W9D[ 9 A PL1SANT RE>W>D
A"P;T1 : 0 B$ROOM1 BR1KFA/-ROOM1 D9+-
ROOM1 & LIBR>Y1 -B9$4 ,! BALMY SUMM]
AIR1 ! RE/;L QUIET1 ! ODOR (! FL[]S1 &!
DR[S+ MURMUR (! BEES _H _H _! E6ECT1 &
%E 0 NO4+ OV] H] KNITT+--= %E _H NO
-PANY B ! CAT1 & X 0 ASLEEP 9 H] LAP4
,H] SPECTACLES 7 PROPP$ UP ON H] GRAY
H1D = SAFETY4 ,%E _H ?"\ T ( C\RSE ,TOM
_H DES]T$ L;G AGO1 & %E WOND]$ AT SEE+
HM PLACE HMF 9 H] P[] AG 9 ? 9TREPID
WAY4 ,HE SD3 8,MAYN'T ,I G & PLAY N[1
AUNT80
  8,:AT1 A'READY8 ,H[ M* H Y D"O80
  8,X'S ALL D"O1 AUNT40
  8,TOM1 DON'T LIE 6ME--,I C'T BE> X40
  8,I A9'T1 AUNT2 X ,,IS ALL D"O40
  ,AUNT ,POLLY PLAC$ SMALL TRU/ 9 S*
EVID;E4 ,%E W5T \ 6SEE = H]F2 & %E WD H
BE5 3T5T 6F9D TW5TY P] C5T4 ( ,TOM'S
/ATE;T TRUE4 ,:5 %E F.D ! 5TIRE F;E
:ITEWA%$1 & N ONLY :ITEWA%$ B
ELABORATELY COAT$ & RECOAT$1 & EV5 A
/R1K A4$ 6! GR.D1 H] A/ONI%;T 0 ALM
UNSP1KA#4 ,%E SD3
  8,WELL1 ,I N"E6 ,"!'S NO GETT+ R.D X1
Y C "W :5 Y'RE A M9D TO1 ,TOM40 ,& !N %E
DILUT$ ! -PLI;T 0A4+1 8,B X'S P[];L
SELDOM Y'RE A M9D TO1 ,I'M B.D 6SAY4
,WELL1 G 'L;G & PLAY2 B M9D Y GET BACK
"S "T 9 A WEEK1 OR ,I'LL TAN Y40
  ,%E 0 S OV]COME 0! SPL5DOR ( 8
A*IEVE;T T %E TOOK HM 96! CLOSET &
SELECT$ A *OICE APPLE & DELIV]$ X 6HM1
AL;G ) AN IMPROV+ LECTURE ^U ! A4$ VALUE
& FLAVOR A TR1T TOOK 6XF :5 X CAME )\T
S9 "? VIRTU\S EF=T4 ,& :ILE %E CLOS$ )A
HAPPY ,SCRIPTURAL FL\RI%1 HE 8HOOK$0 A
D\<NUT4
  ,!N HE SKIPP$ \1 & SAW ,SID J />T+ UP
! \TSIDE /AIRWAY T L$ 6! BACK ROOMS ON !
SECOND FLOOR4 ,CLODS 7 H&Y &! AIR 0 FULL
( !M 9 A TW9KL+4 ,!Y RAG$ >.D ,SID L A
HAIL-/ORM2 & 2F ,AUNT ,POLLY CD COLLECT
H] SURPRIS$ FACULTIES & S,Y 6! RESCUE1
SIX OR SEV5 CLODS _H TAK5 P]SONAL E6ECT1
& ,TOM 0 OV] ! F;E & G"O4 ,"! 0 A GATE1
B Z A G5]AL ?+ HE 0 TOO CR[D$ = "T 6MAKE
USE ( X4 ,8 S\L 0 AT P1CE1 N[ T HE _H
SETTL$ ) ,SID = CALL+ ATT5;N 6HIS BLACK
?R1D & GETT+ HM 96TR\#4
  ,TOM SKIRT$ ! BLOCK1 & CAME R.D 96A
MU4Y ALLEY T L$ 0! BACK ( 8 AUNT'S C[-
/A#4 ,HE PRES5TLY GOT SAFELY 2Y ! R1* (
CAPTURE & PUNI%;T1 & HA/5$ T[>D ! PUBLIC
SQU>E (! VILLAGE1 ": TWO 8MILIT>Y0
-PANIES ( BOYS _H MET = 3FLICT1 AC
6PREVI\S APPO9T;T4 ,TOM 0 ,G5]AL ( "O (
^! >MIES1 ,JOE ,H>P] 7A BOSOM FR7 ,G5]AL
(! O!R4 ,^! TWO GRT -M&]S DID N 3DESC5D
6FI<T 9 P]SON--T 2+ BETT] SUIT$ 6! /
SMALL] FRY--B SAT TGR ON AN EM9;E &
3DUCT$ ! FIELD OP],NS 0ORD]S DELIV]$ "?
AIDES-DE-CAMP4 ,TOM'S >MY WON A GRT
VICTORY1 AF A L;G & H>D-F"\ BATTLE4 ,!N
! D1D 7 C.T$1 PRISON]S EX*ANG$1 ! T]MS (
! NEXT 4AGREE;T AGRE$ ^U1 &! "D =! NEC
BATTLE APPO9T$2 AF : ! >MIES FELL 96L9E
& M>*$ AWAY1 & ,TOM TURN$ HOMEW>D AL"O4
  ,Z HE 0 PASS+ 0! H\SE ": ,JEFF ,?AT*]
LIV$1 HE SAW A NEW GIRL 9 ! G>D5--A
LOVELY LL BLUE-EY$ CR1TURE ) YELL[ HAIR
PLAIT$ 96TWO L;G-TAILS1 :ITE SUMM] FROCK
& EMBROID]$ PAN- TALETTES4 ,! FRE%-CR[N$
H]O FELL )\T FIR+ A %OT4 ,A C]TA9 ,AMY
,LAWR;E VANI%$ \ ( 8 HE>T & LEFT N EV5 A
MEMORY ( H]F 2H4 ,HE _H ?"\ HE LOV$ H]
64TRAC;N2 HE _H REG>D$ 8 PAS.N Z ADOR,N2
& 2HOLD X 0 ONLY A POOR LL EVANESC5T
"PIAL;Y4 ,HE _H BE5 MON?S W9N+ H]2 %E _H
3FESS$ H>DLY A WEEK AGO2 HE _H BE5 !
HAPPIE/ &! PR\DE/ BOY 9 ! _W ONLY SEV5
%ORT "DS1 & "H 9 "O 9/ANT ( "T %E _H G"O
\ ( 8 HE>T L A CASUAL /RANG] ^: VISIT IS
D"O4
  ,HE WOR%IPP$ ? NEW ANGEL ) FURTIVE
EYE1 TILL HE SAW T %E _H 4COV]$ HM2 !N
HE PRET5D$ HE DID N "K %E 0 PRES5T1 &
2GAN TO 8%[ (F0 9 ALL SORTS ( ABSURD
BOYI% WAYS1 9 ORD] 6W9 H] ADMIR,N4 ,HE
KEPT UP ? GROTESQUE FOOLI%;S = "S "T2 B
BY-&-BY1 :ILE HE 0 9 ! MID/ ( "S DANG]\S
GYMNA/IC P]=M.ES1 HE GL.ED ASIDE & SAW T
! LL GIRL 0 W5D+ H] WAY T[>D ! H\SE4
,TOM CAME UP 6! F;E & L1N$ ON X1 GRIEV+1
& HOP+ %E WD T>RY YET A:ILE L;G]4 ,%E
HALT$ A MO;T ON ! /EPS & !N MOV$ T[>D !
DOOR4 ,TOM H1V$ A GRT SI< Z %E PUT H]
FOOT ON ! ?RE%OLD4 ,B 8 FACE LIT UP1 "R
AWAY1 = %E TOSS$ A PANSY OV] ! F;E A
MO;T 2F %E 4APPE>$4
  ,! BOY RAN >.D & /OPP$ )9 A FOOT OR
TWO (! FL[]1 & !N %AD$ 8 EYES ) 8 H& &
2GAN 6LOOK D[N /REET Z IF HE _H 4COV]$
"S?+ ( 9T]E/ GO+ ON 9 T DIREC;N4
,PRES5TLY HE PICK$ UP A /RAW & 2GAN TRY+
6BAL.E X ON 8 NOSE1 ) 8 H1D TILT$ F>
BACK2 & Z HE MOV$ F SIDE 6SIDE1 9 8
EF=TS1 HE $G$ NE>] & NE>] T[>D ! PANSY2
F9,Y 8 B>E FOOT RE/$ ^U X1 8 PLIANT TOES
CLOS$ ^U X1 & HE HOPP$ AWAY )! TR1SURE &
4APPE>$ R.D ! CORN]4 ,B ONLY =A M9UTE--
ONLY :ILE HE CD BUTTON ! FL[] 9SIDE 8
JACKET1 NEXT 8 HE>T--OR NEXT 8 /OMA*1
POSSIBLY1 = HE 0 N M* PO/$ 9 ANATOMY1 &
N HYP]CRITICAL1 ANYWAY4
  ,HE RETURN$1 N[1 & HUNG AB ! F;E TILL
NI<TFALL1 8%[+ (F10 Z 2F2 B ! GIRL N"E
EXHIBIT$ H]F AG1 ?\< ,TOM -=T$ HMF A LL
)! HOPE T %E _H BE5 NE> "S W9D[1 M1N"T1
& BE5 AW>E ( 8 ATT5;NS4 ,F9,Y HE /RODE
HOME RELUCTANTLY1 ) 8 POOR H1D FULL (
VI.NS4
  ,ALL "? SUPP] 8 _SS 7 S HI< T 8 AUNT
WOND]$ 8:AT _H GOT 96! *40 ,HE TOOK A GD
SCOLD+ AB CLO4+ ,SID1 & DID N SEEM 6M9D
X 9 ! L1/4 ,HE TRI$ 6/1L SUG> "U 8
AUNT'S V NOSE1 & GOT 8 KNUCKLES RAPP$ =
X4 ,HE SD3
  8,AUNT1 Y DON'T :ACK ,SID :5 HE TAKES
X40
  8,WELL1 ,SID DON'T TOR;T A BODY ! WAY
Y D4 ,Y'D 2 ALW 96T SUG> IF ,I W>N'T
WAT*+ Y40
  ,PRES5TLY %E /EPP$ 96! KIT*51 & ,SID1
HAPPY 9 8 IMMUN;Y1 R1*$ =! SUG>-B[L--A
SORT ( GLORY+ OV] ,TOM : 0 WELLNI<
UNBE>A#4 ,B ,SID'S F+]S SLIPP$ &! B[L
DROPP$ & BROKE4 ,TOM 0 9 EC/ASIES4 ,9 S*
EC/ASIES T HE EV5 3TROLL$ 8 T;GUE & 0
SIL5T4 ,HE SD 6HMF T HE WD N SP1K A ^W1
EV5 :5 8 AUNT CAME IN1 B WD SIT P]FECTLY
/ TILL %E ASK$ :O DID ! MIS*IEF2 & !N HE
WD TELL1 & "! WD 2 NO?+ S GD 9 ! _W Z
6SEE T PET MODEL 8CAT* X40 ,HE 0 S
BRIM;L ( EXULT,N T HE CD H>DLY HOLD HMF
:5 ! OLD LADY CAME BACK & /OOD ABV !
WRECK 4*>G+ LI<TN+S ( WRA? F OV] H]
SPECTACLES4 ,HE SD 6HMF1 8,N[ X'S -+60
,&! NEXT 9/ANT HE 0 SPRAWL+ ON ! FLOOR6
,! POT5T PALM 0 UPLIFT$ 6/RIKE AG :5
,TOM CRI$ \3
  8,HOLD ON1 N[1 :AT '] Y BELT+ ,,ME =8
--,SID BROKE X60
  ,AUNT ,POLLY PAUS$1 P]PLEX$1 & ,TOM
LOOK$ = H1L+ P;Y4 ,B :5 %E GOT H] T;GUE
AG1 %E ONLY SD3
  8,UMF6 ,WELL1 Y DIDN'T GET A LICK
AMISS1 ,I RECKON4 ,Y BE5 96"S O!R
AUDACI\S MIS*IEF :5 ,I WASN'T >.D1 L
5\<40
  ,!N H] 3SCI;E REPROA*$ H]1 & %E YE>N$
6SAY "S?+ K9D & LOV+2 B %E JUDG$ T ? WD
2 3/RU$ 96A 3FES.N T %E _H BE5 9 ! WR;G1
& 4CIPL9E =BADE T4 ,S %E KEPT SIL;E1 &
W5T AB H] A6AIRS )A TR\#D HE>T4 ,TOM
SULK$ 9 A CORN] & EXALT$ 8 WOES4 ,HE
KNEW T 9 H] HE>T 8 AUNT 0 ON H] KNEES
6HM1 & HE 0 MOROSELY GRATIFI$ 0!
3SCI\S;S ( X4 ,HE WD HANG \ NO SIGNALS1
HE WD TAKE NOTICE ( N"O4 ,HE KNEW T A
YE>N+ GL.E FELL ^U HM1 N[ & !N1 "? A
FILM ( TE>S1 B HE REFUS$ RECOGNI;N ( X4
,HE PICTUR$ HMF LY+ SICK UNTO D1? & 8
AUNT B5D+ OV] HM 2SEE*+ "O LL =GIV+ ^W1
B HE WD TURN 8 FACE 6! WALL1 & DIE ) T
^W UNSD4 ,AH1 H[ WD %E FEEL !N8 ,& HE
PICTUR$ HMF BR"\ HOME F ! RIV]1 D1D1 ) 8
CURLS ALL WET1 & 8 SORE HE>T AT RE/4 ,H[
%E WD ?R[ H]F ^U HM1 & H[ H] TE>S WD
FALL L RA91 & H] LIPS PRAY ,GOD 6GIVE H]
BACK H] BOY & %E WD N"E1 N"E ABUSE HM
ANY M6 ,B HE WD LIE "! COLD & :ITE &
MAKE NO SIGN--A POOR LL SU6]]1 ^: GRIEFS
7 AT AN 5D4 ,HE S "W$ ^U 8 FEEL+S )!
PA?OS ( ^! DR1MS1 T HE _H 6KEEP SWALL[+1
HE 0 S L 6*OKE2 & 8 EYES SWAM 9 A BLUR (
WAT]1 : OV]FL[$ :5 HE W9K$1 & RAN D[N &
TRICKL$ F ! 5D ( 8 NOSE4 ,& S* A LUXURY
6HM 0 ? PETT+ ( 8 SORR[S1 T HE CD N BE>
6H ANY _WLY *E]I;S OR ANY GRAT+ DELI<T
9TRUDE ^U X2 X 0 TOO SACR$ = S* 3TACT2 &
S1 PRES5TLY1 :5 8 C\S9 ,M>Y D.ED IN1 ALL
ALIVE )! JOY ( SEE+ HOME AG AF AN AGE-
L;G VISIT ( "O WEEK 6! C.TRY1 HE GOT UP
& MOV$ 9 CL\DS & D>K;S \ AT "O DOOR Z %E
BR"\ S;G & SUN%9E 9 AT ! O!R4
  ,HE W&]$ F> F ! A3U/OM$ HAUNTS ( BOYS1
& S"\ DESOLATE PLACES T 7 9 H>MONY ) 8
_S4 ,A LOG RAFT 9 ! RIV] 9VIT$ HM1 & HE
S1T$ HMF ON XS \T] $GE & 3TEMPLAT$ !
DRE>Y VA/;S (! /R1M1 WI%+1 ! :ILE1 T HE
CD ONLY 2 DR[N$1 ALL AT ONCE &
UNCONSCI\SLY1 )\T "UGO+ ! UNCOM=TA#
R\T9E DEVIS$ 0NATURE4 ,!N HE ?"\ ( 8
FL[]4 ,HE GOT X \1 RUMPL$ & WILT$1 & X
MI<TILY 9CR1S$ 8 4MAL FELIC;Y4 ,HE
WOND]$ IF %E WD P;Y HM IF %E KNEW8 ,WD
%E CRY1 & WI% T %E _H A "R 6PUT H] >MS
>.D 8 NECK & -=T HM8 ,OR WD %E TURN
COLDLY AWAY L ALL ! HOLL[ _W8 ,? PICTURE
BR"\ S* AN AGONY ( PL1SURA# SU6]+ T HE
"W$ X OV] & OV] AG 9 8 M9D & SET X UP 9
NEW & V>I$ LI<TS1 TILL HE WORE X
?R1DB>E4 ,AT LA/ HE ROSE UP SI<+ & DE"P$
9 ! D>K;S4
  ,AB HALF-PA/ N9E OR T5 O'C HE CAME
AL;G ! DES]T$ /REET 6": ! ,ADOR$ ,UN"KN
LIV$2 HE PAUS$ A MO;T2 NO S.D FELL ^U 8
LI/5+ E>2 A C&LE 0 CA/+ A DULL GL[ ^U !
CURTA9 (A SECOND-/ORY W9D[4 ,0 ! SACR$
PRES;E "!8 ,HE CLIMB$ ! F;E1 ?R1D$ 8
/1L?Y WAY "? ! PLANTS1 TILL HE /OOD "U T
W9D[2 HE LOOK$ UP AT X L;G1 &) EMO;N2 !N
HE LAID HM D[N ON ! GR.D "U X1 4POS+ HMF
^U 8 BACK1 ) 8 H&S CLASP$ ^U 8 BR1/ &
HOLD+ 8 POOR WILT$ FL[]4 ,& ?US HE WD
DIE--\ 9 ! COLD _W1 ) NO %ELT] OV] 8
HOME.S H1D1 NO FRLY H& 6WIPE ! D1?-DAMPS
F 8 BR[1 NO LOV+ FACE 6B5D P;Y+LY OV] HM
:5 ! GRT AGONY CAME4 ,& ?US ,,%E WD SEE
HM :5 %E LOOK$ \ ^U ! GLAD MORN+1 & OH6
,WD %E DROP "O LL TE> ^U 8 POOR1 LIFE.S
=M1 WD %E H1VE "O LL SI< 6SEE A B"R "Y
LIFE S RUDELY BLI<T$1 S UN"TLY CUT D[N8
  ,! W9D[ W5T UP1 A MAID-S]VANT'S
4CORDANT VOICE PROFAN$ ! HOLY CALM1 &A
DELUGE ( WAT] DR5*$ ! PR"O M>TYR'S
REMA9S6
  ,! /RANGL+ H]O SPRANG UP )A RELIEV+
SNORT4 ,"! 0 A :IZ Z (A MISSILE 9 ! AIR1
M+L$ )! MURMUR (A CURSE1 A S.D Z ( %IV]+
GLASS FOLL[$1 &A SMALL1 VAGUE =M W5T OV]
! F;E & %OT AWAY 9 ! GLOOM4
  ,N L;G AF1 Z ,TOM1 ALL UNDRESS$ = B$1
0 SURVEY+ 8 DR5*$ G>;TS 0! LI<T (A TALL[
DIP1 ,SID WOKE UP2 B IF HE _H ANY DIM
IDEA ( MAK+ ANY 8REF];ES 6ALLU.NS10 HE
?"\ BETT] ( X & HELD 8 P1CE1 = "! 0
DANG] 9 ,TOM'S EYE4
  ,TOM TURN$ 9 )\T ! A4$ VEX,N ( PRAY]S1
& ,SID MADE M5TAL NOTE (! OMIS.N4

