Page 183 of Crank (Crank 1)

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“He wasn’t so nice, Mom.”

What do you mean?

“He was …” I paused, “all over me.”

She looked at me without sympathy.

Why didn’t you tell me before?

I took dead aim. “I didn’t think

you’d care. Apparently, I was right.”

Leveled

Have you ever actually felt one up

on your mom? What an

exhilarating feeling.

She stuttered, coughed, couldn’t say

a word because somewhere inside

she knew she was wrong.

So I pushed even harder. “You always told

me not to judge a book by its cover.

Practice what you preach, Mom.”

Two clichés don’t exactly make for deep

conversation, but I didn’t expect

that (or want it) anyway.

I started for my inner sanctum. Paused.

“I mean look at you and me. On

the surface, we both seem so normal!”

Her face contorted, emphasizing every wrinkle.

“Take a peek inside our family album.

Like what’s in there?”

Do you think that was mean? I guess, but

it felt so great, it made me grin.

Sort of sick, or what?

Light-Headed

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