ia said as she checked the duf

Ma. Don't wo

not be worried after all that h

his bag with the other. "I mean, you shouldn't worry too much.

er face but she nodd

eyes went. They both stood lookin

over the beige cushion a

s side as he remembered the in

g dead before they coul

a truck or car and their clo

g, as he immediately put Gabriel

them with a bike, and they soon got to

e actually died from his sickne

a rare occurrence for someone w

for the funeral as soon as possible becau

d over on the only phone they had

s' father had att

ling for the $20,000 loan the family h

her took the one thing that was u

you too." Celia had said when Simon told her t

his Ma, Simon agree

arted working as a labourer on other people's

plotted on getti

building pigpens on the

mocked his family's misfor

to himself as he worked hard t

hat Celia would never be cheered

just because she was not eating

rried because of

ou, Ma. I promise," he said

as a horn blaste

ill eat? We have enough food at home now, and I

Celia said

black overalls she had on and Simon hope

out as the horn

ther as Leo's plan

out Celia, but he

em alone since they took the land. Si

n't need a reason to

iving him a lift and the l

ly mini-sawmill in Papavill

ch, yet he was surprised when Leo simply said, "I wil

ts as they left the village behind

ed in Papaville, his parents had n

was still young, but then th

rk hard and get enough mo

y and more people than he had ever seen together in the village

ed him off at

okay, right

h to take me back home.

Leo said befo

around to fin

yway, and he was sure there would be no poin

towards one, and he

the box while two l

her eyes widened as she autom

e you no

re you talking to a...thing like that? Uggh, what's that smell?

o her and whispered s

lofty sky, while this one is..." she paused as if she wanted to vomit before she continued, "... just like the worm in the poorest

eone that beautiful would have

on ended with Mandy. He cou

ow tone; "What if he is, you know, ...him, but he is just pretend

here can only be the prince of the homeless. You know what? I can't

ut

t's

onfusion as the two

s simple navy blue polo,

e not new, they

ially, and he had kept it beneath his pillow for t

one was done so he m

Back off, man. You stink. I bet you must be on

then he stuck his middle finger

" Simon wondered as he went t

ns in and dial

diately and the cal

t voice said fr

Simon almost thought he ha

used this same tone when she wa

This i

th different numbers now? What is wron

wait...

th calls, I will... sue all of you

sounded before Simon

again and again, but

iting outside the paypho

hought as he began to reali

ow where she

the phone, then there was no way he could tel

r another payphone down the

mall when he saw a couple step out

called out wi