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Show Woodworth/53 But the other kids, whose home is chaotic. It seems like they are afraid to leave, because they don't know what will be there when they get back. Mommie may be passed out dead drunk on the sofa. Daddy may never come home again. So they stick around. They get really dependent. Sometimes it freaks me out how much they stick to me." "You're a school teacher?" Dave asks. "Yeah. Nursery school." "You like it?" "Sure. I think it's going to get old after a while. So far, though, I've only been doing it part-time. Teacher's assistant, and all that. But it's kind of neat being around all those little kids. And putting to work all the things I read about in school." Dave steers Rachael's attention away from them?- Leaving Marty-and-Gary - washed-up--together-in~silenceJI She feels awkward again, and strains to hear an entrance into Rachael and Dave's conversation. Something in Gary makes her feel unsure of herself. Too vulnerable, too young. She doesn't feel as confident as she did with Can and Bob, that she and Rachael could toss around. "So tell me about Westfield," he says. She looks over and notices that he is staring at his beer. His hands are thin, fingers long. Something vulnerable about them, as if they could be broken by trome Lliing1 db simple -a-s^ a hand shake. A scar, an old one, only an inch or so long, nestles against his sideburn. "Where did you get that?" She touches it gently, tenderly. "Long time ago. When I was a kid." He turns towards her and qTriinUq SiJiMWKFestling. Actually, I might as well tell |