face Trainman! the speak.

the Imâçhé stepped

nowwarm, But kitchen
even head aside
sporteda With
friendlv table.
more one
thev and.
Resting with hand
sinistershocking
smiie
had
they on covering
a
42
scowl!
trembling
made
the
had was
its table her
painted for
face. finger,
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Instead the
pointed
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it, papier Allison
the of to

reputationbrokewarm
basketballteachers Mountains-and
inThe around
kidsClare's,chilling would
Adam the Adam,
desks
crammed
winter,
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havewould
never
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were Catholic hadn't
anddidn't for
turning But and the curly-haired
cared into
over a
of
gone
THE
baseball
mind
about
uncomfortable, fifty
Stwindow
. the the school
Room
never on
been
RoOM333
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43.seasons,
out
Clare's
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air
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d

More St.
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333.
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SECRET
students, still
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especially
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OzarkneverBolton
OF
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to
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big his
Townsend
his
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and reallv report
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fat
paper day becausewhere felt
He
hiAdam
s and skills.
each rll
zero, because
wo
drowned couidn't explaindreaded irst
him put card
maybe
44 before, uneasy stomach in math a
and math math Room He halt new couple his wasn't He
missing the eise would off was
Adam Adam put how going justchapter. of was it. mind an
"may exams! rattling
out had in that that 333. didn't the of too one
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alknew
l had the to times--but every bad, of
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comes that vear-until
His math get Hepits. it.
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of empty It would Clare's
on class.
after the been him from and was his and
the air it
a it it,

understand I
eXpectswhether I'mproblem he be today," me."Roberts with sigh.important,a the school?" give littleonlyTownsend's"Adam,
fail
"At "T'm in lost. furious.
says "If"That
huh?" bad, Later, grading "I "Well, baseball "I'vgote yoOu time this When
his guess
least flunk I Adam week a it's
me Miss is, the some grading
samethe toShe I'l! best in math toobvious class
Unless the period,
I' ll you'll learn desk,
you it camping I math, be away,
puts just said. friend,
either." follow Townsend see or
extra was
passed I
cafeteria,
halí fractions. period," knowing
boat," it, that don't pullatI'm "Miss youbaseball.
you have tutoring. which dismissed, you
trip practice," Adam.
said
but off Frankie
an basebal!." thiscan'playt need
45 the stuff goes get Townsend to she what
said least
to th e Adam means
quiz. I hour afternoon." Now,
can't." up fractions. the team. But
decide Can toldhelp, she
Frankie.
"I'm too a Lewis. sat remember, he
onfast Ozarks C late yoU if you
inAnd ycu're him. orwas went
is down
boardandthe
I ali going iCoach what' s come have you're
or t classes,mvmy
don' or "Tell he "The going up
what. is willing.
practica to said if precious going
surenot off. dad tc
iunch
you in
test to to
know tutor with more after Miss
but The wil fail ! Il! say.
is to
 rattiedhethey?""Nuns
because and what
cheeks.
rosy dangiing with his from
around show
himselí. Townsend.
himselí.
be kids him, Cardinalsslumped honor
trudged roll."
the
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Yes, didn Adam a his up running sat got
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Ma'am, t
She the down
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speaking
a hear noticed big
ofvouWhere practicelistenedgazed Room final to his lucky--a
was to
tendencymean hercoilar
you brown dressed Hean Roberts their at the hands. out."
of
had I neck. have 333.
mean,
to
come most
and elderly
was
is
Miss field,buses to
out a Dodgers
beishutouts,
l
46 never frighten
to eyes your is the the desk, Heof moaned D.
do in," Wrinkles
was surprised
had in going not andwindow, closed the last But
Sister."
and a Townsend
woman math laughter and
actually that he her black
a here, rides day did Adam that
you," said.
to snow-whitegentle book
to
waited
night?" you could
spread large behome. t
sounded,he
He robe to
startled he feeling
and
spoken felt
children,
she see anyway?grumbled mad door hear as
smile. out gold and a open?"
his
keep
shoutsI sorry for what
a replied. nun Adam when should behindAdam
little don't
to skin But fromcross hood Miss head me
by to offor the off
a I

suredidn't just knocked thank tomorroW more fistthought left the

all made proceeded numerators
and" have priests
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Although nun
can That'as "Okay," "Very upten him class The "Sounds
"I "Fractions,"
mutteredhe "Are
hear
second her problems in it guess if a wh0
exercise nun who
be funny, for ofmorning f possible. inhad to try?" I mental you were thiswore
quiet. the said good," the more
a
do0r ag0. the the air fog.
covered
go not,"
leaned like and having did
problems Over teach not was
help.
he last
Adam and
praised and
understandable he you block. the
He How before VWhen However,
denominators, trouble from
glanced openthought. two thenshouted, answered
the on could traditional a
come But with weeks regular
there
wore
47 or the he basics a I
Catholic
the
problems, class." in desk use get
close. She she maybe
a nun. easily
th e she inclergy.
up I "Al l earlier disgust. in
didn't was smile. halfheartedly.
ofnext a all math?"
at
B0y,
was bock,
fractions-material did little confused school,robe,
the gone. he "Now
we right!"
managed than it The
seeright to
converting
As can but help," she called
clock.those looked he in Adam's few most
her soon do Adam which a clothes.
thinkasked.
"II
next thrust way nuns
old
leave?1 continue a to she between
of a
Oh,
nuns to up as couple solve had that had anc said. and and the
habit.
no! me to he his
 divide and school.
entered
of stumped. íractions."Frankie.
asked how aher ractions!" multipv to
happilv 0Ur vOur with Roberts
you 3:45!
the Beiore "In "That's hope"I "So iight
waited before--showed to "Real "Vhat Aiter"Fractions.
there "mwere When I'e
age."
fractions?"room the Why going doinside
do sheepish
Do funny.
told
practice, at havinggoing
looked been
or first
fempty my so. you the happenedi Coachn
tnird Adam
came don't you my hin.
the period to big But problems." Iuh? gin here
The nun. see
hang-up."
think
think head.
"I base!" trouble tohim
a
classroom, you No. Adam Roberts be
arrived an
still I up, think
voice.
boysMoments come her you this Did had
I on!y in hour?
the she All and t the
48 have hustled said took with
tomorrow of old you Iv e thirty late
"Ready
spun next with could said can it trouble eye Coach
to awas
nun-Ive get finally with longer
fractions,"
sat
morning,
later, Frankie. learn pass sudden over minutes and for
in in me?" help like a is
their to the morning new figured
wink. atoo,than practice,
said, going
the to
learn from me how Ishe when Adamlate."
"It understood brain?" Frankie
never "I to
seats
the
front the too?" to big turned
out "Nowthought." I
how before has divide thoughtCoach kil
test?" I
and back row, boys me
seen
on
how and get was said me!
to

his helped me." how promise you yesterday

tSWing
he Townsend
her walkedin. finally next trouble
problem, Sister, she you closed.room, they caw
"Sister? "That's doctor.
mouth"Her." a briefcase "Adam, "Well Adam do A "In been "We the
half surprised turned
to note. set caught dividing this that?" which
Ill adidn't
manner there old
multiply becauseat the hour,then, just
droppedAdam Who okay, help She's the is around
I
hope onowe I classroom on. shook was
nun
day her the let's
fractions
myFrankie the see
pointed are Ma'am," you okay. As of standing
and you my you nun get friend speaking,whole you located and
open. you after daughter care desk. they his
But an right whispered come stared
divide didn't door tutored
worked too." head time?"
49 to
The talking school
said center. apology," "I Frankie,
the I'm had in in
swung to in yes," in," the atthe
nun desk fractions.Adam. waitsorry hurt to it,"
about?" today." too had I leave onthbewilderment.
e to said front. the back
had next sne the boys she and Adam, she only
iorgo: I her open answered. Adam. corner.
"I long to said.
disappeared. said iast he's It
door
tounderstand
Sister take arschool
m "How was
for to
and until
exercise
his, purting For having "Have in
Then
her on eariy Miss thev the "uh, still the
here me.leave did
and tothe
I
 Strangeexam
know I
the deep roli grade.fluttering riding she's to bu dot "BUt that heiping teacher. aaskedthe ame senndin The
That's "Yean, "Howdid think. AsI}
On biack
Meanwhile, test. breath, I or
if
gone." weleit The donest.Frankie.
the be know teacher us
urge too. how mess it's
on the
in "One don't tihe robe ago. un.
Wi th
exactiy and this." bovs here
About
to to
each and up. bye-bye Adam' s muttered
day she vhat hovs with Miss do You You
do like
look Frankie I'll
he minute ieft aier have shook our know,
halfway problem, it! what think But blow of do convinced
kind Townsend, vou had
he told that?" theciass nuns fractions from
up stomach.
to the know
thought. positively." the likebaseball my Adam. she'roont,
s of her
th e tothe
50 from was
through, Adam's boys Sister chanceFrankie. Frankie big if in head
you joke what have nun
there, they habits she when there ol d
theirbreezing "Ive test,
Yes! did told and need e didn't and days,
you' r
he's seen who
tests bothconfidencewhen to wondered. "I
got
butterflies didn't
the in
smiled you was was
Piece honor
usmake
, the the need me,trying this talking her
relax,Ozarks." an next believe walked and an
through
at
boys they know
okay?" old when here
the of a
awful school. in she about?"
cake! began take decent minute tothem. a nun just
same felt grew. were what pul, way in." was you
the a
lot
I
in a
a

the theydown"Ozarks,honor both of test!" acedthe her?could Frankie time "We again.trailed Townsend.
off them oldtime.
"What's
"Well,"Gee, After "Yesssss!" AdamA "Beats As "We "Boys,
keep nun.
secretary,walked Is we
were tothere,And in
the roll them! few she she and they had were get She
whooping here the
we nun again!" grinned.
days me," just when he
can
her playingsneak back
don't Mrs. into said, leftleft." clock, just smiled
you name?" shouted looking
and come!" I later, Frankie your to
the in the looking heads
know,"Painter,
describe He "I a "Do Miss work. atthe
thank it think game and realizedthe
administration high-fived up, Frankie. the said.
classroom,
you Townsend,"
at themfront
51
she boys out the at
said the I with the,
her?" asked. to her nailed "Allwithout believe ciock warned
down!" and of
Adam. help for boys Adam, "I'm got us?" uh the
had
nun then
them.tutoring the it know I Adam to room,
officedecided headed too." that added
see ."
anyone Adam's motioned
who news--As
is nun? turned how vanished stood
and Frankie.
them. hollered,
to I
think seeing
for much voice Miss
asked How for the
track the ior to
So I
 in
math whatRoom
can ever in Clare's nun help
thermostat the habits.
office, haven't know or wear." used to skinPainter."
Adam. Mrs. onwas
we knowing
"She
flurked easygrade
"Sounds Adam
"Yes,"
said in As without
but school "Ive "She "She the "She
for Room Dwight, of short
find
sure 333. the I'm been "And I've heavy
overhear anyone been was
for she about and perplexed sorry, the ever had was
her? her that like like
helped most She 333?" for any at she these fat."side." in
Weclass." no taught, thirty said, the habit," seen, you, her
but who' s
everyone. was Sister you. years, janitor nuns Clare's
St. wore
added
want one--notus excitedly. big Mrs.sixties
years--most a "Excuse boyscan't I said ever and
52 out,'" she great Did abrown
Cecilia. stopped who visiting
to
had were help fit for black really Frankie,Painter. I
thank sajd teacher. you Mrs. guess,"
one In "Do me, had that
eight eyes
fact, a She happen about us
you." Painter. robe rosy
Adam. single knack
her." working description--with years, "but And,
of you boys. been lately and said
she Itthat that
taught cheeks," not well,
didn't know a
to th e Adam.
"So
student- took for time to Ifixtureleave who "And andI old
couldn't
see like she
where making matter her?" on whitest
pride at wear there don't nuns said
right this the atthe
you, was "She
St.

lookedpossible Cecilia,
Sister Dwight.disbelief. Dwight.about WeheartSisterboys,
"Hey," "That's "You're "Are "You "Whoa,
saw Dwight
Cecilia, a attack you're
Cecilia
up a and "AIl you studentknow, her.
addedghost
towardincredible!" the We hold right leaned
she's saying
wherever I'm ones every diedgoing
helped been orheard on," in
Frankie, on
the saying she's two few said thatabout to
dead
who her. find the
you
ceiling mesaid getting years very
a Adam. ten this wall
53
issaw ghost?" She
are." "Iace for sameyears
since
can you help helped hard and
and test?"Adam. aabout her, "She
handle described asked from her room." ago. chuckled.
not can' t to
said, "Could ten death, us." believe.
She
years." me," Frankie her," be
"Thanks,that."
itSister said hear I dead. had "Now,
said But
He be in a