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Show 13 every b i t of her deep-fried shrimp, then wiped up the sweet and sour sauce with the l a s t of her egg r o l l . She finished everyone e l s e 's leftovers while they drank. "No doggy bag tonight?" the waitress asked, piling the plates. "You guys finished harvesting?" They a l l cheered and clinked their glasses together above the center of the table. Vanda wished she had gone for a walk through the f i e l d s . She was sure the waitress weighed no more than eighty-nine pounds. No one seemed to think she was with Joe anyway, least of a l l the skinny g i r l who served them. Angela wasn't wearing her usual headscarf and Vanda noticed how pretty her hair was, soft and white, waving gently around her face. Mr. Gnicht was kissing her fat cheek, softening her up for l a t e r. All men were a l i k e , Vanda decided. "You eat goat cheese," Angela hollered across the table. She was drunk, too. Vanda f e l t a pain and gasped. It was like a knife going through her belly button. She imagined i t was how c a t t l e felt when the branding iron f i r s t seared their hides. But i t was over in a second. She took a deep breath and slumped against Joe, who draped his arm around her neck and began tickling her ear. "You'd be half pretty if you'd lose some weight," he joked. The waitress brought another round of drinks and Vanda excused herself. She leaned against the wall of the restroom waiting for another contraction, but none came. I just ate too much, she told herself. Anyway, the baby's not due for a month and a half. Everyone at the table was pounding their glasses with knives |