Why You Bleed

"Slow down, Pippa Longstocking," I said, holding up my hand to get her to stop making that sound. It was like nails on a chalkboard. Taking another sip of my mocha, I really wished that I had brought some Tylenol or something to ease the headache she was giving me. How could someone so stupid be left alive?

There was a pause as she looked at me in confusion. "My name isn't Pippa Longstocking; it is Pippa Flynn. Are you okay?" she asked, looking at me like a confused puppy. I really wanted to cut her tongue out of her mouth to get her to stop talking, but that wasn't going to help me right this minute.

"I know your name," I said through gritted teeth. "You just don't understand the reference."

She blinked at me rapidly for a few seconds before shaking her head. I wondered if that was how she became so dumb. Was she shaking every good idea out of her head when she did that?