Chapter 3

Elsie didn’t date much. When she did, she always ended up hurt or disappointed. Fay’s father had run off during her pregnancy, but she’d never been bitter about it. She was a wonderful woman, and I couldn’t understand why she’d been single all these years.

“You know,” she said, “we just talked. Eye to eye. Just talked and laughed for thirty minutes.” She glanced over at Fay and her face grew serious. “I’m seeing him tonight. Can you take her out to dinner?”

“This her here?” I pulled out a chair and fell back into it. “I don’t know.” I pretended to weigh myoptions. But soon, Elsie came up behind me and wrapped her arms around my neck, trapping me in her famous chokehold. Ever since we were kids, she’d gotten what she wanted by strangulation.

“Go for his belly,” she egged Fay on, and I knew I was done for. Fay’s little fingers scratched and pulled at my sides and no matter how much I howled, they did not let me go.

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