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Show Hannah Mae and the Mona Lisa 108 She reached into her bag and pulled out a folded paper. "I found this in your French book," she said. She handed over my Paris essay-the one in which I had claimed to know why the Mona Lisa was smiling. Extraordinary. I had used the word over and over. "Too bad we missed the deadline," she said. Her voice was soft and a little sad. She said we like somehow she had played a part in all that had happened the last two * nrj weeks. Like she should have been standing close to tell me to forget the blueberries. A x1' Like she should have stopped me from filling my pockets with want. cwvP -»*\ Miss Larkin admired some tomatoes and pulled out some bills. "Maybe you can . fj still earn enough with the market," she said. She smiled and, for a moment, my spirit soared. I let myself imagine that she might be right-especially once Colby came back. I let my fanciful brain turn to Paris again. I thought of the Eiffel Tower at night-all lit up and real-not just pretend like Colby's Comer Market. I hadn't allowed myself to think of the Eiffel Tower for weeks. Seemed like years, even. But then I came to my senses. I paused, reluctant to speak. I folded the paper. "I've given up Paris," I mumbled. Miss Larkin slumped her shoulders. "That's what I figured," she whispered. I bagged her tomatoes and gave her change. She took my hand. "What about our arrangement with Mr. Morris? He wanted me to ask." "Colby needs someone to watch over him," I said. "Didn't you say he was starting work tomorrow?" |