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of Skeet Stuckey, Finton instinctively halted on the side of the road. Resignedly, he watched the girls disappear over the hill.
    Every day at recess and when school let out, he would watch Mary go off with her girls while he fell into a stream of babbling boys that usually headed for the woods. He often wished he could go with her, but she was beyond his grasp. Even to be seen talking to Mary would mean being mocked by the other boys, especially Bernard Crowley and his minions. Eventually, he took to sitting with the boys on the far side of the classroom, opposite the girls. He often felt the pressure of such restraint as if he were bound in a straitjacket, each authentic emotion buckled, every dangerous thought shackled.
    â€œDid you hear about Miss Bridie?” Skeet panted from running to catch up.
    â€œI was there.”
    â€œYes, b’y! I managed to sneak out for a few minutes, but Mudder caught me and dragged me home. What a bitch, man.” Finton shrugged and kept walking, while Skeet scrambled to keep up. “I heard Morgan started it, and now’s she in the mental.”
    â€œNo one knows what really happened.”
    Skeet drew a huge gob of spit into his throat and hawked on the ground in front of Finton’s feet. “One in and one out.”
    Finton shook his head disgustedly. “What’re you talking about?”
    â€œMorgan’s gone in and Sawyer Moon’s out.”
    Finton halted near the top of the hill. Skeet laughed heartily as he paused beside him, then glided past. “You scared o’ Sawyer?”
    â€œNo… not really.”
    â€œThat must be why you’re running.”
    â€œShut up.”
    â€œOh—I get it.” Skeet slowed and nodded towards the schoolyard. “Trying to catch up with your girlfriend.” He motioned towards Mary, who by now was standing around with a circle of girls, no doubt gossiping about last night’s fire.
    â€œShe’s not my girlfriend.”
    â€œWell, let’s catch up with her then.”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œIf you won’t talk to her, I will.” Skeet took off running, straight for the girls at the edge of the small crowd while Finton muttered to himself and trudged behind.
    Seeing the boys approach, Dolly pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and nudged Mary with her elbow. “Did you hear about Sawyer?” she asked.
    â€œHe’s outta the mental,” Skeet said testily. “We know.”
    â€œWe just saw him.” Mary pointed towards the thicket. “Over there.”
    Skeet spit on the ground. “Scared, are ya?”
    Finton peered nervously into the woods, imagining the madman could be lurking behind any tree.
    â€œBetter to be scared than to let ’em catch ya,” Mary said. “That’s what Dad says.”
    â€œI’m not scared o’ nuttin’.”
    â€œYeah, we’ll see about that when Sawyer gets ya. Then you’ll run home cryin’.” Dolly’s prediction sent the three of them into peals of laughter. Skeet didn’t laugh, though. He seemed embarrassed, which was always funny to see because Skeet was so much bigger than everyone else.
    Skeet stuck his hands in his pockets and winked at her. “You know what you needs, Dolly?”
    â€œWhat do I need, Skeet Stuckey?”
    â€œA man.”
    â€œWhat would I do with a man? Everyone knows women are better.”
    â€œSomeday you’ll need a man to protect you—then we’ll see who’s better.”
    â€œWell, if you see one around, let me know.”
    â€œB’ys, shut up—women are just as good as men.” As he spoke, Finton noticed Alicia Dredge sitting on the steps with her big-eared, older brother Willie. When she caught him looking, she shifted her gaze towards the road. Conversations went on all around them, but the two siblings sat in seclusion. They didn’t even talk to each other.
    To most people, Alicia