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“Yeah, but only within their limits. Sounds like this isn’t what they told you it would be.”

Her words brought back that bitterness I’d been feeling earlier. I closed my eyes for a long moment to try and wrestle it back into place.

“I’m trying to get them to see reason. And if I do, I can do more.”

“I get it,” she said. “But I don’t like the idea of you being miserable.”

“I don’t like being miserable either, but it won’t last for long.” I forced my lips upward. “Once I’m in that library, everything will feel better.”

“And you’re sure about this?”

No. But I could pretend. “Yes.”

I wasn’t sure if she believed me. Her eyes were narrowed in my direction. “Okay, fine. But that means you need to apply for this grant.”

“If it’s real,” I said.

“Tammy said it was.”

“I know, but I want Henry’s opinion first.”

“Yeah, about that ... Why him?”

“You heard what I said earlier. He’s smart.”

“And no other reasons?”

I could have said he was cute. Really cute, in a nerdy way. He considered others, but stepped in when he needed to.

But that would open up a whole other slew of questions I wasn’t ready for. So, I shook my head. “Nope. No other reasons.”

7

HENRY

Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch

Hu Gh:In search of a sewer!!!!!

Comments:

Kerry Winsor:A sewer???? A SEWER???

Atticus Thompson:Hugh, Strawberry Springs is an old town. We don’t do sewers here. You probably have a septic tank and need a plumber.

Marjorie Brown:@Theo Murf

Theo Murf:Absolutely not. Not again.

Hu Gh:What are all of you on about now? I need someone to sew the crotch of my pants up.

Kerry Winsor:Oh! A sew-er. You must mean a seamstress.

Hu Gh:Seamstress. Sewer. Who cares? I just need someone to fix my crotch asap.

Jade Clark:Hugh, no one wants to fix your CROTCH.

“I can’t believeI burned myself with a curling iron. What am I, a rookie?”