Chapter 11

“Do you wanna see my special place?”

I nearly jumped back. “No.”

“Can I see your special place?”

“No—no w—way.”

She narrowed her eyes, shrugged and went back to pushing the fat-headed baby. Fidgeting, I sat on the steps and watched some ants carry a dead ladybug across the tiles. “Is your bro—brother okay?”

“Which one?”

“What d—do you mean whi—which one? The one that—that was in the ho—ospital yesterday.”

“They were both in the hospital yesterday.”

I sighed. “Boone.”

She plucked her doll out of the tire and hitched up her shirt. She tucked the doll inside it. “Oh, he’sfine. He’s sleeping. Do you wanna help me give birth?”

“Wh—what?” My cheeks burned. This girl.

“I plan on having a C-section.”

Boy, oh, boy, Lene sure read a lot of magazines. I got to my feet. I didn’t plan on spending my day with her. She scared me. “Well, tel—tell him I went for a bike ride.”

“Aren’t you gonna play checkers with my dad?”