the

endands,andhopehe

ooinsistthatguineveredieatho,hher.butsheedher

thertobetherehappened.

itanthahadsaidintothephone,”hi,katherine,”

thathopeedtheeeriefeelinginsideowellbeing,

ahaddroppedoutofherworld.shehad

feltthesathiobigsurhouther

fatherhaky,likesheandingononlyoneleg.

loherfather,shefoldedher

legsalysettledguinevereishirtedlap.thetabby

lookedupather,purringsoftly.hopeigihatguineverefelt

thesareassuranceseeingherasshefeltseeiher.

only,hedidntlookveryessyand

hisbeardprickly.theshadohathehadnt

sleptch,adeheervous.

butheething.ifrachelwasdead,he

rightupouldnthehaveifshewasdead,he

esoonerouldnthehave

buthopedidntknohere.shehadtriedtostay

aotherdidwhenshewasfeelinglonely

ordoeworkso

nytis,andthebooksheheldherthoughts.so

shehadfallenasleep.

shehatedthethoughtthathertherghthavediedwhileshe

slept.

ifthathadhappened,sheyfortherestofherlife.

sheinghering

aroundbehindhislids.sendslater,hisensedandhe

jerkedaaredattheceiling,satquicklyup,pressedthe

heelsofhishandstohiseyes.he