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Show 49 Immediately she apologized for sounding like a textbook, but Dyna was enjoying the analysis. "We need something to unify the class. You're all such keen individualists!" she said, wrinkling her nose at Dyna. "I thought the preliminary work on the TV show would bring everyone together, but the group is divided by the very enthusiasms it needs to succeed." It was nice that Mrs. Simpson trusted her enough to confide her worries about the class. It was as if Dyna was another adult, another teacher, someone who'd be sure to understand. Just then two patty melts and one hamburger arrived and Dyna helped Tim pour some ketchup on his plate. She dipped a French-fry for him to eat, then he dipped one for her. They laughed and Mrs. Simpson looked on, beaming. Maybe she gets lonesome, Dyna thought suddenly, having only her little boy around. She couldn't unload her problems on him, for sure. His shoulders were practically nonexistent! "I thought you might give me some suggestions," Mrs. Simpson said once Timmy started on his hamburger. "Me?" "Sure. Remember my telling the class we'd have a poetry read-in? With a live audience?" Dyna nodded. "Well, I'd like to arrange something this week, but I honestly don't know where to begin." "Like . . . what do you mean?" "I guess I've been away too long. We moved to Denver right after we were married, then we lived in the Bay area for six years. I just don't know the city at all anymore. We need some place where we can go . . . you know, so the kids can do their thing." She paused, staring at the city bus which was polluting the air outside JB's. Then, turning back to Dyna she asked, "Isn't there a coffee house somewhere or a community center? I know about Odyssey House, but it might be harder to perform there . . . in front of other teenagers . . ." "Hmmm," Dyna frowned. Mrs. Simpson continued. "Here in the city would be best, I think. It would be more like going someplace, for the rest of the class, anyway." |