I had thought so but I’m not sure anymore, I’m having trouble focusing.’ ‘Fuck,’ she said. ‘Hailey! Language.’ Hailey rolled her eyes....‘Oh dear,’ she said sarcastically. ‘Better,’ said her mother from behind the screen door. Tyler laughed. He hadn’t laughed in days, but this kid was funny. ‘Well I think you can do it. I guess it doesn’t really matter though, so long as you beat that poofter Krantz. Everyone hates that dickhead.’ He heard Hailey’s mom sigh and walk away. Obviously Hailey’s. Not needing anythingelse for the moment, we made our way home. I really loved my new sandals.They'd be perfect for strolling the boards. I enjoyed being closer toSam's own height, though he seemed to be still growing.It was closing in on nine o'clock when we arrived home. I asked Mom if itwould be OK if I went out for a bit. She said that would be fine but tomake sure I was home by ten. She put her cell phone in my purse; just foremergencies. I put the hundred and fifty that I'd earned that. "She said, "Everybody from here knows that."I said, "My family moved here from Germany, this past summer, my Dad wasin the Army."She said, "Okay, you may not have known; however, now you do know."I went through the rest of the day, knowing that I have to have a reallygood project. If I want to graduate it had better be a great project.It was the end of the first week and it could be the end of my chance tograduate with the rest of my classmates, the class of 1974. I had thisyear and two more. " I was thinking more about your poor parents," Caroline said. "You'vebeen living in Europe for what, three years?" ...Three and a half," Jessica mumbled. "I do miss them sometimes. ButI'm glad I have another set of parents living in the country, even ifthere is a few hundred miles of land between us!" And we'll never say no to another daughter!" Malcolm chuckled, givingJessica a gentle pat on the back. "Even if the two that do live closeto us are a pain in the neck most of the time!" Paige did.