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"Hi," she said. "I'm Roberta."

"I thought we might take a little ride first," Elliot told me. "Hop in."

"How did you get your car? You told me you were grounded." I responded.

"I was, but I made a new deal with my father. I'm going to improve my grades." He looked at Harmony and laughed. Then he turne

d back to me. "Maybe I can get some pointers from your mother. C'mon, get in."

"I can't. I have to take care of some important chores."

"Hey," he said, losing his smile quickly and leaning farther out of the window, "a deal's a deal. I lived up to my end, and as you can see, we're here. We're going to have a good time. remember?"

"C'mon, don't be shy," Roberta called to me and opened the rear door.

I stared at her.

"Maybe I should just go and ask your mother if she'll excuse you from your important chores. I called and spoke to her, and she doesn't sound so bad," Elliot said. He started to open his door to get out.

"No, she's not feeling well." I said quickly. "She's taking a nap."

"Oh." He shrugged. "Perfect. She won't notice you're not here. then."

"Come on. Noble. I won't bite. I promise," Roberta said. beckoning.

"He wants you to bite," Elliot told her, and she laughed. "Don't you. Noble?"

"No," I said.

"Are you coming or what? Chores. Don't give me any lame excuses about this place," he said and then he looked around the farm. "Hey, where's your faithful dog? He brings his dog everywhere he goes," he explained to Harmony and Roberta.

"That's very nice," Harmony said. "What kind of a dog do you have?"

"Golden retriever," Elliot answered for me. "He's a beaut. too. So where is he?"

"Inside," I said quickly.

The reference to Cleo stirred my pot of rage again. I looked down, thought a moment, and then I moved forward impulsively and got into the rear of the car, closing the door.

"Way to go," Elliot said and instantly put the car into reverse. He backed up awkwardly, causing the girls to scream. Then he turned and churned gravel beneath the rear wheels.

"Slow down!" Harmony shouted at him. "You'll get another speeding ticket."

"Right." he said, and he did slow down.

"What's it like going to school in your own house?" Roberta asked me.

Harmony leaned over the front seat to look at me and listen. She was very pretty, I thought, with perfect, dainty features and interesting blue eyes. They were shaped like two almonds. I envied her smooth complexion and the color of her lipstick. It made her lips look moist and sexy, just like the lipstick Elliot's sister Betsy had.

"It's okay," I said quickly.

"Okay? Going to school in your own house is okay?" Roberta asked.

"Yes," I said with a face as firm as Mommy's could be when she was determined. "I'm fine with it."

Roberta was not half as pretty as Harmony. Her face was rounder, her eyes smaller and dull brown. She was big boned with a very large bosom that seemed to pour out of her chest. She had the top two buttons of her light pink blouse undone, revealing a deep, dark cleavage that had two pink spots at the top on both sides. The remaining buttons of her blouse looked like they were straining to remain buttoned. Both is were in jeans.

"Do you have a blackboard and a desk and all that. too?" Harmony asked.