MINERAL DEPOSITS

nonfiction about things that didn't happen

Friday, January 29, 2010

American Life 2

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"God, it sure sucks being a teen-ager round here", said Mary carelessly, letting a dribble of Pepsi run down from her brash red lips and off her chin.

"You can say that again."

The air was hot and stiff, the ground was hotter still, and Mary and Cody had six weeks left of summer vacation. They were both working for Mr. Gordon five days a week. On the week-end they would play on their rope-swing by the river, chucking sticks and rolling in the damp dirt.

"Say, what does it take to get you guys to do some work?" Mr. Gordon had come round from the back of the farmhouse and caught them slacking off. Mary turned still sucking moisture from her cool, blue Pepsi can.

"You know what Mr. Gordon, you can screw your job!" she yelled, and her and Cody jumped from their branch and sprinted through the tall grass, hurdled the picket-fence and ran for the river as if their freedom depended on it.

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