Sneak Peek

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“This is what I want to say, but how can I? The censors would never let it get to the Motherland. They would think me deranged and evil. How could she talk ill of the dead, they would ask? Would they think I’m mad? They might lock me up and life will be even harder. No, I must hide my true feelings. I will not lie to them but I will not be entirely honest either. Tonight, I will write the in-laws and tell them of his departure. Let them grieve for him for I will not.”

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“It won’t be long, will it, Maria?” glancing briefly at her swollen middle.
“About four weeks, the mid-wife says.”
“We are all praying for you, especially since it is so soon after your loss.”
“My people have saying… ‘The dead stay with the dead and those alive stay with those alive.’ I
am much sorry. It not well translate.”
“I think I understand. You are doing well then?”
“Dah, yes, tank you.”

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“It won’t be long, will it, Maria?” glancing briefly at her swollen middle.
“About four weeks, the mid-wife says.”
“We are all praying for you, especially since it is so soon after your loss.”
“My people have saying… ‘The dead stay with the dead and those alive stay with those alive.’ I
am much sorry. It not well translate.”
“I think I understand. You are doing well then?”
“Dah, yes, tank you.”

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“He glanced at the map, drawn on the back of a piece of junk mail. The queen of recycling,
Nana never threw anything away without finding at least a second use for it. He spotted the old tarp.
The steamer trunk should be under that mess. Carson sighed, “Any farther away and it would have
been in the neighbor’s house.”