It’s actually the least painful   
of all her ideas.                      
     Putting herself out as bait was   
another of her crazy schemes, but no   
one could persuade her otherwise. Even 
her parents were at a loss.            
     She was stubborn and didn't like  
to be bossed around. “My parents give  
me enough of that shit. Thank you very 
much,” she was fond of saying, and     
would add with a giggle, “I already    
gave at home, but thanks for asking,”  
and then she’d curtsey.                
     Even though I opposed her joining 
the group, I was also secretly glad    
that she had. She was one hell of a    
computer genius and could get in and   
out of almost anything, high security  
or not. She even knew how to code chips
and build her own apps and computer    
* gadgets.                                 
     I’ve probably explained all that  
before, but I was also glad she came   
tonight. I just couldn't tell her that,
or the other thing either.             
     Giving your arch-enemy a com-     
pliment, or anything like it, had to   
definitely be against the rules. Some- 
day, I’ll find those damn rules, but   
for now, all I had to say was, “Glad   
you could come, Runt.”                 
     Beth looked at me in disappoint-  
ment, and then turned to Rhonda and    
smiled, “I'm glad you came, Ron. How’d 
you get in? I didn't hear you knock?”  
     Rhonda giggled and looked at      
Darryl, “How'd I do Teach?”            
     “Teach?” I asked and looked at    
Beth, but she was just smiling right   
along with Rhonda.                     



CHAPTER 14: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 31st
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