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Show 156 "What did he say?" "'Turn in that uniform, you're taking the rest of the summer off.'" "And you haven't held a job since then, with the expenses you and your grandmother have?" "No, Sir, only babysitting and yardwork for the ladies who live next door* I shoveled walks some during the winter, but mostly for free." "Has it occurred to you that a part-time job might help keep you out of trouble?" Dyna didn't answer* "Your honor," Gram sat forward, "I didn't want Dyna working this year. She had extra classes to catch up on her credits. I've insisted that she concentrate on her studies so she could graduate, and I've been very specific on that point." "I see. I can understand that, of course. Now, Dyna, I think it's important for us to look at your behavior since September 2. According to the authorities at school, there have been no particular infractions of the rules this year, and that's commendable. Aside from that first day, there was one unexcused absence, on a Monday, February 20. Was that a truancy, Dyna?" "No, Sir, it was not." "An unexcused absence is. a truancy." "Gram was in the hospital and I'd run out of groceries. I went to Family Services, then they sent me over to Indigent Aid. It took all day, but I never told Gram about it." "Why didn't you tell her? Wouldn't she have given you a written excuse?" "I thought . . . I mean . . . I knew she'd be humiliated. I took i t on myself, your honor. It was a good l e s s o n . I learned what indigent meant." "But you didn't find it necessary to steal on that occasion, did you?" Dyna studied her hands in her lap. "I almost did." "You almost did?" His voice boomed out over her head. "Yes, Sir. But I didn't." Oh please God I can't sajjr. 5HI 22I£! I can't drag Parker into this! |