She was so occupied counting every object in the store that before she knew it, they were locking the front and going through the ritual of closing down. 56/395 So. What really happened between you and that Lucas kid? Kate asked without looking up from the stacks of bills she was sorting. I wish I knew. Helen sighed as she rested on her broom handle. Everyones talking about you two. And not just the kids, Kate said with a half smile. So whats up? Look, if I had an explanation, believe me, Id be shouting it in the streets. I dont know why I attacked him, Helen said. And the worst thing is that the attack isnt the worst thing. Oh, youre going to have to explain that, Kate said. She put aside the money. Come on. Tell me. Whats the worst thing? Helen shook her head and started pushing the broom around. There had always been a voice in her head that would whisper possible explanations for her strangeness, words like freak or monster or even witch.
