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Show Fair Forever - , - 38 "I'm glad," she says softly. "Truly." She places her backpack on the floor, and I begin to relax. , . , . . - ; ' . 7 7 ' , . "Bradley, there's something I've wanted to ask. I'm so miserable at algebra; I was hoping you could help. I started off bad last year-like disaster-level bad-and I never caught up. I'm petrified of that test on Friday, and since you have to repeat Algebra again, like me, I thought maybe-well, hoped maybe we could work together. Help each other." I study her eyes. They're honest. Worried. She's serious; she wants my help. My heart beats so loud I'm convinced she can hear. "Sure," I answer. "But I didn't finish either." "I,know, but you had a good excuse." ~ "* Excuse; Suddenly, I love that word-the way she says it-like getting a new heart is like any other excuse. Nothing bigger or smaller, nothing odd, nothing different. But I'm suddenly, unsure. "Thanks for asking," I say. "But I'm not sure if I'll stay-in school, I mean.".,. \ . , Katie looks suddenly alarmed. "But I thought... Aren't you better?" And I realize she's worried about my heart. "Yes.. My heart is great. It's j u s t . . . I'm still trying to decide about staying in school-starting over. Anyway, if you think about it, maybe it makes sense to ask someone who actually passed the class last year." I pause. "What about Lindley?" "Lindley?" Katie laughs out loud, then lowers her voice. "Lindley is still working on multiplication." She hesitates. "I understand about school, Bradley. At. |