"I'm takin' a year off," said Lucas. She asked again, and he repeated, rising-rough, "I'm takin' a year OFF - !"

He slapped the arm of the chair. It squeaked - rocked. He looked up at her bug-eyed.

A tension in his brow as if she'd insulted him.

Zoe's jaw dropped - she covered the phone receiver. Mouthed twice. "Ah - " Tossed her head. "...I-I was just tellin' Marian," she said. "...Her brother just graduated, too... Know Forrest? He's goin' to -"

"Your friends ain't my friends," he said, sneering. Voice like a sawdusty crow. "Why you care, anyway?

"You a grown-up, all of a sudden?"


July 17th. "Graduate".