“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You do.”

“No I-”

Anne raised a finger, stopping me in my tracks. She started writing again, scratching away. She was muttering to herself.

“The young girl was faced with the choice… but now in denial she…”

She broke off, fingering the paper.

”...decided to stay alone, still, as always, in darkness.”

“I am not in denial!”

She continued writing, and I crossed my arms and stared at her defiantly.

“Are we just gonna sit here, or are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you, of course.” Anne dotted her pen forcefully to make a tiny period, and then put it down. Turning to face me, she folded her small hands in her lap.

“Everett is… well he… He was hoping you would come.”

Whaa?

“He, well, he’s lying to himself, I can tell. We can all tell, I know it.”

“Who’s we?”

“You, Alice, and myself.”

“An eleven year olds vote doesn’t count much.”

“You’d be surprised.”

Oh, I’m not so sure. Nothing can surprise me now.