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Show "Mom? How could you?" "Now, hush. I don't want Mr. Huskinson hear you talking like that. He's very sensitive. Sensitive as a bull. It was one thing to share a sink with Pilar and Mimi, but quite another to share a bathroom with a strange man. Her house seemed oddly changed from when she left in September. The elm trees along the road to the house which were full and billowy when she left were now a network of grey spidery branches, like little black lines etched against her house. The Christmas music she'd expected to hear when she came in the front door turned out to be the theme song of The Love Boat. "Kim, I'd like to have you meet Mr. Huskinson's daughter, Julene," said her mother as they entered the living room. Julene was sitting straight-backed on the sofa watching TV. She was a wispy gaunt little thing who's buck teeth were all Kim could see on her slender face. Julene tried to flickering a smile, but somehow she couldn't force it out and her shy eyes darted quickly back to the television set. "Julene's partial to love shows," said Mr. Huskinson. "Fantasy Island is her fav-o-rite." Kim smiled weakly and felt slightly nauseated. It wasn't that there was anytning offensive about Julene, but she had been looking forward to her privacy when she came home. 163 |