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What if he doesn't want you there? I don't like this,'

she said shaking her head.

"'Granny, if there's any problem, I swear I'll just

leave and come right back,' I promised.

"'Why don't you bring this boy around here

first?' she suggested. T11 cook him a meal.'

"'He's too shy, Granny. He won't come.' "'He's too shy to come here, but not too shy to invite you there?' she asked, her eyes narrowing with

worry and suspicion.

"'He's living on his own, Granny. His daddy's

not there much.'

"'I don't like the sound of that, Star,' she said

shaking her head.

"'I won't get into trouble, Granny,' I told her.

'You don't think I'm a good girl? You don't think you

can trust me?'

"''Course I do,' she said, 'but sometimes things

happen anyway.'

"'I like him, Granny. He's a nice boy. He was

good to Rodney and you know from what you heard

Rodney say that Rodney likes him, too.'

"'You want to take Rodney with you?' she

asked. I couldn't tell if that would make her happier or

more reluctant.

"'No, Granny. I want to have some time to

myself. Thanks to Momma, I never really did,' I said.

'I'm nearly sixteen,' I told her, 'and I haven't even been

out on a real date.'

"I hated to sound like I was whining, but that

was what I was doing. Granny gave it more thought

and I guess she concluded I did deserve some