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“I’d pay attention.”
“What do I do?”
“Move first.”
Her eyebrows shoot up.
“I’m not hitting him.”
“I didn’t tell you to hit him.”
“You said move first.”
“Move. Away from him. Toward a teacher. Beside somebody else. Through a doorway if there is one. Make him change what he was about to do.”
Tova considers that.
“What if I’m wrong?”
“Then you moved three feet.”
“And look stupid.”
“You’re twelve. Looking stupid occasionally is mandatory.”
“Helpful.”
“I’ve got more wisdom. Most of it’s expensive.”
She faces the television again.
Astrid closes her laptop and carries her mug toward the sink.
“Do you two need anything?”
Tova answers before I do.
“No. I asked Colt something about school.”
Astrid’s hand stills around the mug.
“Do you want me?”
“No.”
“All right.”
She turns on the faucet and rinses the cup.
Tova waits until the water stops.
“You’re really not going to ask his name?”
“I know his name.”
Her face changes.
Shit.
