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Page 142
questions?" I interrupted.
"Get it over with," the old woman bristled.
For the next several minutes, B.C. spewed out what sounded like a well-prepared list of very official, typically bureaucratic questions all relating to health services. If I hadn't known better, I would have sworn that the whole act was a carefully rehearsed and frequently practiced routine. She concluded by thanking the old woman for her time and bidding her a good day. She wasn't even subtle about hustling me out of the house.
We were safely back in the Z and headed back for the village before she quit scratching out her own notes and allowed me the luxury of a few questions.
"How did you know the old girl couldn't read? That little routine with the driver's license was beautiful."
"Long shot," she admitted, "but it paid off."
"And that list of questionsfantastic! You sounded official as hell."
B.C. looked straight ahead, her face furrowed into a frown. "Not bad for a flat-chested broad who snores, huh?"
She never cracked a smile.

I've heard it said that one of the secrets of winning teams is that there is always someone on the team who is willing to step

 
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