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look at the fatty, ” Mary Lou said. “ Maybe you should lay off those pickles, Pickles, and then you could do more than roll around on the floor. ”
    With her face burning, Pickles struggled to her feet to run from the classroom as fast as her legs could carry her. She went inside a bathroom , selected a toilet, and drew up her knees to cry . She wept until she felt puke might just come out her nose. No way would she eat anything now or go to the cafeteria to get some food.
    She stayed in the bathroom stall all the way until she heard the bell through the bathroom door . Unfortunately, she had to leave her sanctuary. She unlocked the stall door and eased out . When she stared in the mirror, she sighed. H er eyes were red , making it obvious she had been upset .
    The other girls are going to know they got to me . Maybe I should skip my next class . Yet she couldn ’ t stomach the idea of getting in trouble the first day and having Miranda get a phone call. She shuddered, spun , and walked out of the bathroom. When she went into the hallway , she kept her head down and walked with her jacket about her ears. A couple of girls giggled as she passed them , so she knew they were making fun of her. She wasn ’ t sure what they were saying, but she knew, deep down , sometimes it was better not to know .
    ****
    Miranda dr o ve up to the curb . Pickles trembled and her queasy stomach threatened to spew . She felt as if she was about to burst from all of the bad, icky feelings inside of her. She couldn ’ t remember feeling this sad or angry, not even when she thought about her parents leaving her. Sadly, she didn ’ t even have anyone to tell about it. She didn ’ t want to be a trouble to David or Miranda.
    Pickles opened the car door and sat down.
    â€œ Hello, Pickles. ”
    â€œ Hello, ” Pickles said, shooting Miranda a nervous look.
    Luckily, Miranda didn ’ t appear to notice anything. She was grinning at the sidewalk as if a shower of gold had burst from it .
    Maybe it will be easier to pretend nothing is wrong than I thought.
    But Pickles wasn ’ t sure whether that was a good thing.

 
Chapter Nine
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    That night, after finishing her homework, she lay on the bed with the door cracked open . She heard someone softly call her name, and the door creaked so she sat up. Both of her foster parents came in to see her . Forcing a smile on her face, she pretended everything was okay. It would have been easier for her to have swallowed a bowling ball.
    Miranda came over and sat by her on the bed. “ Pickles, I realize today I seemed distant to you. I wanted to apologize. It was your first day of school, and I should have been more attentive to your needs. I ’ m sorry. ”
    David came in too and sat by Miranda. He took her hand. Worry clawed its way up her throat, fueling the tears that pricked the backs of her eyelids. Don ’ t cry. Don ’ t cry.
    â€œ How was school? ” David asked. “ How were your classes? ”
    â€œ The classes were interesting, ” Pickles said. That much, at least, was true.
    â€œ Interesting, ” David said, a smile crossing his face. “ Oh, how I miss school. Time of my life. Interesting classes, g ood friends, beautiful women. ”
    Miranda fake punched David in the stomach . He massaged it , feigning a wince. “ Ouch. ”
    Pickles smiled and Miranda play hit her too. The next thing Pickles knew, she was being tickled wildly from both sides . U nder the attack of their fin gers, she started to giggle . Soon she was laughing so hard she couldn ’ t stop, tears of mirth pouring down her cheeks. Miranda and David were both laughing too.
    David and Miranda collapsed into each other ’ s arms and Pickles flopped backward onto her bed, gasping for breath . David and Miranda laid down too. David grabbed one of her hand s and then Miranda grabbed the other.
    â€œ I ’ m so glad you ’ re