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Show 115 At the bottom of a short flight of stairs, Dyna stopped and faced him. "We're having ham tonight, Parker, and mashed potatoes." She watched him react, saw the color rise along his neck. Suddenly she realized he was embarrassed. No matter. She plunged ahead. "I finally figured out how to make applesauce from dried apples, too." "Add water and stir?" Parker-being-droll. Dyna smiled. His eyes smiled back, warm and good-natured. She couldn't tell him "thanks"! It wasn't appropriate. He knew. He didn't want to be thanked. They walked up the few steps together, Dyna wondering why she was tingling inside, why Parker always made her feel like a celebration coming on. "Where's your locker?" he asked. More droll. She gave him a knowing look, then led him down the bank of lockers that housed her own. Once there, Dyna did an about-face that forced Parker to meet her and her remorse head on. "I've got to tell you something," she began, her voice dead-serious with resolve. "That was no misdemeanor, breaking into your place Wednesday night." He wouldn't let her go on. He spoke over her. "Dyna, that girl in our house was desperate. She knows better, right? I won't keep flogging her if you won't." Dyna just stood there, not knowing what to say. It was like being judged by God-you were forgiven before you opened your mouth. "But . . ." she floundered, "But she has the same name as me and I'm responsible for what she does." Refusing to listen, Parker stepped past her, checking the numbers on the locker fronts until he found the right one. "Really, I'm very, very sorry!" she apologized. He ignored her, taking elaborate pains with her combination lock, rotating it first to the right-15-then to the left-37--then back to the right again. The lock released. "See you in class," he grinned, giving her hair a tug, then walked on down the hall. Dyna's heart was still doing double-time when she slipped into her |