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Show bear hug. But before she had a chance, Woogie bounded after Mr. Huskinson into the kitchen. "Woogie," Kim called out. "Woogie!" "He's just excited to eat," said her mother. "He'll be right back." She felt as if someone had just pulled the plug on her life support system. She slumped her back against the wall and slid down onto the floor. Even her own dog had deserted her for Mr. Huskinson. As she sat on the cold linoleum floor, chills going through her body, she realized one thing. There was nothing left for her in Gridly Falls. She simply couldn't stay here. Now was as a good a time as any to that to her mother. And she had Mrs. Parker's promise of the tuition scholarship to fall back on if her mother said she didn't have the money. "Mom, I have to go back to Miss Putnam's. I just have to." Her mother looker patiently and sympathetically at Kim,the way she did the evening she'd told her there was no santa claus. She put her arm around Kim's shoulder and held her tightly. "Kim, we simply don't have the money." "But I can get a scholarship," said Kim. "One of my teachers practically promised me a full tuition scholarship." Mr. Huskinson came out of the kitchen door with a dish heaped full of dinner scraps and Woogie chasing after him. "That still leaves four thousand dollars for your room and board," said her mother. 165 |