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1b69b50
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You look back on some little decision you made and realize all the things that happened because of it, and you think to yourself "if only I'd known," but, of course, you couldn't have known." --
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mystery
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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3ecead9
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Odd, isn't it? You know when your birthday is, but not your death day, even though you pass the date year after year, never suspecting that some day...
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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3231ee7
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I wished that the chains would break and the wind would sweep me up, up, up into the sky, beyond the clouds, beyond the sun and the moon, to some marvelous kingdom where no one ever changed and friends were friends for life.
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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15516cc
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The water is DEEP AND DARK AND DANGEROUS
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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e0f8fdb
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The rules are very strict...
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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4d8b657
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WHEN YOU'RE READING YOU SHOULD PRETEND YOU'RE REALLY THERE BECAUSE IT WILL MAKE THE BOOK MOR INTERESTING!
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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7863e1f
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Time doesn't run backward, you know, and things that have been done can't be undone, no matter how hard you wish.
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time
regret
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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946b5d7
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here, there, and everywhere"-an opinionated riddle."
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Mary downing hahn |
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91fb1a8
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People were so fragile, so easily broken, so hard to put back together. "Mr."
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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aa5246f
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To everyone who enjoys ghost stories
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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3edf89d
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The lake's deep...and dark...and dangerous.
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ghost-story
lake
scary
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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c806487
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As Corey and I followed Grandmother out of the library, we glanced at each other. Without saying a word, I knew my sister was thinking exactly what I was thinking. Rappings and tappings, footsteps, doors opening and shutting-- could do that. And more. Bringing ghosts back to Fox Hill would be like playing haunted house all summer long.
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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9e0ff29
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Where did you come up with that granny story?" "I saw it on a TV show about ghosts. The Jenningses really ate it up, didn't they?" "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Corey grinned. "Ghosts are about to reappear at the inn," she said. "In fact, I predict the Jenningses will have their own experience with the supernatural before they leave." "They'll go home and tell other people," I said, "who'll come to the inn hoping to see ghosts. They..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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9630035
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Sissy tilted her chair back so far I was sure she'd fall on her head any second. Not that I cared. Maybe she'd leave if she hurt herself.
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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f6d0e46
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What happened at the trestle?" "Edward fell," I said. "He almost drowned." Andrew grinned. "It's a pity he didn't."
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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767e7e0
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spunk,
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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ebfb2e9
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interested
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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48211c3
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Stu asked me to marry him
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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435cb87
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As she said, our talents made us different from other people, but not strange.
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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34f8049
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Why don't you and Ali set the table? The forks and knives and spoons are in that drawer." She pointed to the cabinet by the sink, and Emma began counting out the utensils--four of each. "There's only three of us," I said. "You forgot Mr. Bear." Emma sat the teddy in the extra chair and laid a fork, knife, and spoon in front of him. I laughed a little louder than I'd meant to, in relief, I guess, that Mr. Bear was joining us . . . not the gh..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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056d2c4
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Fetch, Buster," she called. "Fetch." I watched the dog pounce on the stick and carry it back. Hannah held out her hand. "Give it to me, sir." Buster shook his head and wagged his tail. He wasn't going to surrender the stick. Nothing could make him open his mouth. Hannah laughed. "Silly old thing. Just wait till Andrew's well enough to play. He'll make you obey!" I didn't like the sound of that. Would I be expected to order Buster around? He..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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546f6ef
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You aren't worried about tomorrow, are you?" "What do you think?" He propped himself up on his elbows and studied my face. "You told me last spring it was the easiest thing in the whole wide world. You could hardly wait to jump. Why, even when you got sick you worried you'd die without having a chance to do it." "I must have been a raving lunatic," I muttered. Theo scowled, but the sound of a Model T chugging up the driveway stopped him fro..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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f126da0
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We reached the bushes beside the porch without being seen. Crouched in the dirt, we were so close I could have reached up and grabbed Hannah's ankle. To keep from giggling, Theo pressed his hands over his mouth. Sick with jealousy, I watched John put his arm around Hannah and draw her close. As his lips met hers, I felt Theo jab my side. I teetered and lost my balance. The bushes swayed, the leaves rustled, a twig snapped under my feet. "Be..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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de10987
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Andrew, what are you doing out of bed? You're ill, you need to rest." I crouched beside the ring, speechless with surprise, but Andrew jumped to his feet. "Hannah," he cried, "Hannah." Although he was right in front of her, Hannah didn't see her brother. She walked through him as if he didn't even exist. "I've been lying awake worrying about you," she said to me. "When I heard noises, I thought you and Theo were up here. But you're all alon..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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7a08495
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You must go back to bed." "No," I shouted. "Not yet! I have to finish this game." I couldn't leave Andrew, not now, not when I was finally winning. Hannah released me so suddenly I staggered backward. "I'll fetch Papa!" she cried. Andrew threw himself at her. "Hannah, stop, you're ruining everything!" I grabbed his arm. "Let her go. We don't have much time!" Casting a last terrified look at me, Hannah ran downstairs, calling for Mama and Pa..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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089bdbb
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Maybe we should give Andrew a little test, just to make sure the fever didn't damage his brain." "Don't be silly." Hannah tapped the rolled magazine on her knee as if she wanted to whack Edward even harder than she'd whacked Buster. Looking at me, Edward went on with his game. "We'll start with easy questions. What year is it?" Hannah protested, but I answered anyway. "1910." Edward pressed on. "Who's the president?" "For heaven's sake," Ha..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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61163dd
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Do you know how to play?" I asked. Hannah gave me one of her vexed looks. "Goodness, Andrew, if it weren't for me you wouldn't know the first thing about marbles. Your brain is a regular sieve these days." I tapped my forehead to remind her I'd been sick. She looked so contrite I felt guilty. "Will you teach me all over again?" Hannah poured her marbles onto the quilt and sighed. Without raising her eyes, she said, "Girls my age are suppose..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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6ccd065
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What's the meaning of this?" Papa strode toward us. "You've disturbed the entire household, Andrew." Mama gripped his arm. "For goodness sake, Henry, don't frighten the child. Haven't you done enough damage? I told you not to whip him!" Papa made an effort to calm down. Taking a deep breath, he squatted in front of me. "What's troubling you, son?" he asked. "Surely a spanking didn't cause this." Aching with sadness, I put my arms around his..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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d9d87b4
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Alone in the bathroom, I stared into the mirror over the sink. Who was I looking at? Andrew or Drew? The boy on the lawn had been wearing my jeans, my T-shirt, my running shoes. I was wearing his clothes. I'd whistled for his dog the way he would have. I'd called his mother "Mama" as naturally as I'd once called my mother "Mom." If I stayed here long enough, would I sink down into Andrew's life and forget I'd ever been anyone else? No, no, ..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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b729d16
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When Mama leaned over to kiss me, I hugged her so tight she could hardly breathe. "I'll never forget you," I whispered. Mama drew back. "What did you say?" "Nothing," I mumbled. "I love you, Mama." She smiled. "Well, for goodness sake, you little jackanapes, I love you too." Smoothing the quilt over me, she turned to the others. "What Andrew needs is a good night's sleep. In the morning, he'll be himself again, just wait and see." "I hope s..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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239c6c7
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In the sudden silence, Andrew grabbed my hand and shook it. "I'll miss you, Drew. You've been a regular gent." It was hard not to cry, but I was determined to show Andrew I could be as tough as he was. "I'll miss you too," I admitted. "And Hannah and Theo and Mama and Papa. I never had a brother or a sister or a dog of my own before." "But you won't miss Edward. He'll be there waiting for you." Andrew meant it as a joke, but neither of us l..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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6b08847
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There." Hannah got to her feet and surveyed the cleared space. Picking up a stick, she drew a lopsided circle in the dirt. She scratched a cross in the middle and laid thirteen target marbles on it--one in the center and three on each crossbar. she called them. Outside the circle, she drew two lines about a foot apart, took ten steps back, and drew another one. "Now," she said. "We'll lag to see who goes first." I stared at Hannah, my fac..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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ccfc4c6
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Reaching out, Andrew crooked his little finger with mine. "If I live, I'll find a way to let you know, Drew," he promised. "I owe you that much--and a whole lot more." After a little silence, Andrew's face brightened. "You don't suppose you could stay, do you? Just think of the fun we'd have playing tricks on Edward and Mrs. Armiger." He laughed at his own thoughts. "Why, we'd make their heads spin, Drew. They wouldn't know one of us from t..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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9e66543
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Why, I never!" Waving a letter covered with spidery handwriting, she said, "What a surprise! After all these years, Hannah wants to pay me a visit. She'd love to see the house she grew up in." At the sound of Hannah's name, my heart beat faster. Speechless with happiness, I listened to my aunt chatter excitedly. "She says John died last winter and she's staying in Riverview to straighten out his estate." Aunt Blythe paused to scrutinize the..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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d9c735c
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Try again, Andrew," Hannah said patiently. For the rest of the long morning, we played. By the time we quit, my thumb hurt, my neck and shoulders ached, and my finger felt permanently crooked. It looked like I wasn't going to beat Andrew anytime soon. Chucking me under the chin, Hannah laughed. "Goodness, don't look so glum. It's a game, Andrew, not a matter of life and death." I turned away quickly and began gathering the marbles. The thin..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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8b72ecc
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Suddenly, a loud popping and banging shattered the quiet. Almost hidden in a cloud of dust, a car roared along the road below us. Cattle lumbered to their feet, horses raised their heads and galloped away, a flock of chickens scattered in all directions. Hannah gasped. "Oh, my Lord, it's John Larkin in his father's motorcar. If he catches me looking like this, he'll think I'm a common hoyden." Her bare foot plunged toward me. The tree swaye..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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dbdd7f7
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Now don't go too fast, John," Mama said. "And be careful of the curve at the bottom of the hill. Sometimes Mr. Pettengill's cattle get out and block the road." "Yes, ma'am." John cranked up the engine. The car shook and trembled and made a series of loud popping noises before it began to roll down the driveway, picking up speed as it went. "Hooray!" shouted Theo. "Hooray!" "Heavens to Betsy," Mama cried, "slow down, John. Do you want to kil..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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453affe
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In Riverview, we stopped at Larkin's Drugstore for a cold drink. Leaving the rest of us to scramble out unaided, John offered Hannah his hand. Although I'd just seen her leap out of a tree as fearless as a cat, she let him help her. At the soda fountain, Hannah took a seat beside John. In her white dress, she was as prim and proper as any lady you ever saw. Quite frankly, I liked her better the other way. I grabbed the stool on the other si..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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0fe099a
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At that moment, the back door opened, and Great-grandfather wheeled himself outside. Slowly and carefully, Hannah stepped through the door behind him. Aunt Blythe followed, balancing a tray loaded with a pitcher of lemonade and five glasses. "Come along, you two," Hannah called. "Tarnation," Andrew muttered. "Am I going to have to see that jackass today?" Without letting me help, he levered himself out of the chair with his cane. "I bet Han..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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cc7eab6
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I have to ask you something." Stumbling over words, I described my encounter with Edward. "I have to meet him at the railroad trestle next week. I'm supposed to do something when I get there, but he didn't say what..." My voice trailed away. The expression on Andrew's face told me he knew exactly what I was talking about. "Drat," he muttered. "That low-down skunk. I was hoping he'd forgotten." Andrew hesitated. Without looking at me, he pic..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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6e4c9ff
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Hannah tells me you're an archeologist," she said. "Drew's father has followed in your footsteps. He spent the whole summer in France, excavating a Roman ruin." A spark of mischief flared in Andrew's eyes. "Why, it could be the other way around," he said. "Perhaps I got the idea from " Hannah gave Andrew a sharp poke with her cane. Luckily, Aunt Blythe didn't notice that either. "You have the oddest sense of humor," she said to Andrew. "It..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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b1e6583
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You didn't marry?" Aunt Blythe asked Andrew. He glanced at me. "When I was a boy no older than Drew, I had a close brush with death. It always seemed to me a miracle that I lived." Once more Hannah made an attempt to stop her brother with a poke of her cane, but Andrew went on talking, his eyes on my face, his voice solemn. "I often thought I'd been meant to die, so I decided to lead a solitary life. There's no way of telling what one perso..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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6746967
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Long before I was ready to say good-bye, Hannah rose to her feet and beckoned to Andrew. "We've had enough excitement for one day. It's time to leave." After making sure Aunt Blythe wasn't looking, Andrew pulled a leather bag out of his pocket. "She thinks you already have these," he said. "They're yours for keeps now." I clasped the marbles to my heart and stared at him through a blur of tears. "Come back soon, Andrew." He hugged me so har..
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Mary Downing Hahn |
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99bf319
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To tell you the truth, I'm beginning to forget things too. The more I learn about you, the less I recollect about me. It's as if your memories are crowding mine out, there's no room for them in my head." I nodded, agreeing with him. "Every day I get more like you, less like me." "Lord A' mighty," Andrew said solemnly. "I hope that doesn't mean I'll become a total pantywaist." The thought of such a dreadful fate seemed to revive him."
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Mary Downing Hahn |