“HELLO.” I BARKED.
         
         “HELLO,YOURSHELF,SSSHHWEETHEART.” CAME JEFF’S DEEP VOICE IN AN
         IMMITiXTION OF HUMPHREY BOGART.
         
            “UUUMM,JEFFEREY?I HAVE TO GOB4BY.CAN I CALL YOU LATER?” I ASKED.
         “BREE?” JEFF ASKED.
         
            “I REALLY HAVE TO RUN.” I SAID.
         
           “I HAVEN’T SEEN YOU AROUND.” JEFF SAID.
         
           “JEFF,I GOTTA GO.” I SAID HARSHER THAN I HAD INTENDED.THERE WAS
         A PAUSE.
         
           “WHERE ARE YOU GOING?” JEFF ASKED QUIETLY.
         
         “OUT.” I SAID EVASIVELY.
         
           “NEED A FRIEND?” HE ASKED,I WAS GETTING ANNOYED.
         
         “NO I DON’T JEFF.I’LL CALL YA LATER.”
         
           “BREE?” I HUNG UP AND RAN OUT OF THE HOUSE.
         
         
         
           THE FREEZING WEATHER DIDN’T STOP THE TEENS AND ADULTS ALIKE FROM
         
         PLAYING IN THE ARCADE,OR DOING CHRISTMAS SHOPPING OR EVEN TAKING A
         
         QUICK THRILL ON THE HURRICANE OR HAUNTED HOUSE.I TROTTED ALONG
         
         THE BOARDWALK MY BREATHING COMING IN LONG AND GRAY AGAINST THE
         
         BLACKENING SKY.
         
            “HI,BREE!” SOMEONE CALLED OUT.I KEPT RUNNING.I STOPPED OUTSIDE
         THE PHOTO BOOTH AND ~4AITED
         
            “SUPRISE." A STUFFED HEAD POPPED INFRONT OF ME AND I TOOK THE
         RIZE WITH A SMILE.THE STUFFED—ANIMAL HAD A BIG AND FLOPPY BLUE
         BOW THAT MATCHES HIS BLUE EARS.I LOOKED TIP AT TODD.
         
            “THANK YOU.” I SAID.TODD BLUSHED.WE STARTED WALKING AND TODD
         SLIPPED HIS HAND IN MINE.WE WALKED QUIETLY AND TODD STOPPED AND
         
         GOT SOME FRENCH FRIES.
         
            “NEED ME TO HEEP PAY?” I ASKED.TODD LOOKED AT ME.
         
         “I DID LAST NIGHT.” HE SAID.I LOOKED AT HIM,FORCING A QUESTIONING
         LOOK ON MY FACE.

         “HUH?” I ASKED.TODD GRIMACED.