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house. "Unfortunately," she said, feeling the need to explain, "Carleton is a tad complacent about such things." The fact was that most Carletonites wouldn't fess up to a problem unless they found the Exxon Valdez in their swimming pools. |
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The woman walked to the sink. She fingered the purifier attached to the faucet. "Have you had water problems?" |
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"Not to speak of. Comes out a little murky once in a while." |
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"It was pretty bad in the shower this morning," Matty said, coming back into the kitchen and stuffing his glove into his handpack. |
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Terry gave him a look. "Because of all the rain the last few days." |
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The woman looked concerned and turned on the water, watching it stream into the sink. It ran clear. |
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"We get bottled water anyway. Everybody does these days." |
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"Gotta go," Matty said, and stuffed a wedge of toast in his mouth. He had not touched the grapefruit or the bowl of yogurt and muesli. Were the woman not there, Terry would have made a fuss, but she didn't want to risk a scene. |
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"Eat this on the way." She stuffed a banana in his backpack. "And feed the cat, please." |
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"Hey," she sang out pleasantly, "Daisy needs to be fed." |
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He brushed past her. "Fuck you." The words were barely audible, but Terry felt as if she had been punched. "What?" |
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"I said you feed her, I'm late." |
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Terry gaped at him. That's not what he had said. And the realization jagged through her. He had his foul moods, even temper tantrums, but never had he spoken to her like this. |
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She took a deep breath to regain control. Mrs. Manning, still at the sink, gave them the quick eye, then turned to the backyard. |
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Terry's face burned. "Matthew!" she said as he opened the back door. "Feed the cat." |
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He stopped and looked back at her, eyes dilated, challenging her. For a moment the room faded to a blur, as if they were locked in a tunnel vision. He's going to explode, she thought. He's going to have another fit right in front of this woman. |
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But he didn't. Instead, he stomped back into the kitchen and dumped a can of fish into the cat's bowl. |
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Terry felt the press of tears but fought it back, making an awk- |
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