Page 218 of Crank (Crank 1)

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and falling all over

again. I felt out of

control, a meteorite

tumbling

through space,

tugged by gravity

toward certain doom.

Jerked Awake

well after dark,

yanked into consciousness

by Mom and Scott, yelling in the hall.

“Are you blind, Marie? You don’t sleep

like that unless you’re crashing.”

She’s running a fever, Scott.

And just what makes you an expert?

“Come on. We both know the scene.

You just refuse to believe it.”

We had a long talk today. She swears

the only thing she has tried is pot.

“Like your sweet, little Kristina

is above lying to you?”

But what do we do? Search her

room? Have her tested?

“We pull the reins tighter. No dates.

Straight home after school.”

For how long? We can’t keep her

locked up here forever.

“At least until report cards come home.

If her grades are okay, she’s free.”

What about tonight? Should I try

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