Dog followed me out to the barn and watched as I took a wheelbarrow and began to clean out the barn. He seemed to know just where to sit to be out of ...he way. He watched everything I did as if he wanted to memorize it for later reference. I couldn't get over how he just seemed to fit right in.In the evening I lit the Coleman lamp in the living room and got out a book to read. Pa came in and sat in his easy chair with his eyes closed. He just rested quiet. Ma darned some socks with holes in the. Yes.? ?Yes. It hurt. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t, but the tattoo hurt much more. The nipple piercing is quick, like having your ears done. A little sting, then it’s over. The belly button hurt too, and took a while to heal.? I didn’t say anything. ?If you’re thinking about doing it, Sandy, you’re too young. You need to wait until you’re older. We could get your ears done while we’re here. That would be fine. Your belly button too, if you want. But nothing in your nipples or down. And I madesure I knew where he was, and made sure he knew that I knew." Oh?" Jane put in, "and just how did you do THAT, Willa?"The sheriff-elect blushed again, flushing bright red all the way to hismilitary-style hairline. "I - ah - well... " Willa!" Teacher ordered sternly, "Organize your thoughts and speakclearly!"The familiar order and tone had the expected effect. Bill Beale sat upramrod straight in his seat, took a deep breath and all but shouted. "Isent him little reminders every two or. The head nurse had suggested that I drop in on Millie, and then suddenly changed her mind, and advise me not to bother. Since I am always up to a challenge, Santa insisted that we visit her. Upon entering her room, Millie sat quietly in a tattered old yellow print dress while staring off into space. Somehow Santa knew that this was going to be a tough one, and called up his best, ‘Ho, Ho, Ho, and a Merry Christmas,’ only to find the focus of his attention totally unmoved. Another even heartier.