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things quieted down. Kelly's parents came home. Her

father looked a little suspicious when he saw me

sitting in practically a coma on the bed, but he didn't

ask any questions, even though I imagined I looked

very pale. The girls assured me they couldn't smell

any rum on me. I went outside with Kelly and Talia

and took deep breaths of air until I felt well enough to

chance calling my mother.

"'I hope you don't say anything about this,'

Kelly warned me. 'You'll get me in a lot of trouble and

you'll only get yourself in trouble, too.'

"'You should have told me what was going to

happen,' I scolded.

"'Don't be a prude,' Talia said. 'You had a good

time, didn't you?'

"I remember looking at her as if she was crazy.

Boys had molested me. I had thrown up. I had a good

time?

" 'No,' I said sullenly.

"I was so frightened when my mother came, I

don't know how I walked out and got into the car. 'How was the dinner?' she asked immediately.

"'Very nice,' I said.

"'Did they serve fish?'

"'No,' I said. At least that wasn't a lie. "'And did you behave? Did you follow all the

rules of etiquette? Oh, did they start with grace?' she

asked quickly before I could answer her other

questions.

"I thought for a moment and said, 'Yes. It all

happened the way you told me it might.'

"It was dark in the car so she wasn't able to