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to the smooth, flexible material of Mike's water bottle in the desert, and Abby examined it. "What is this made of?" she asked Hannah. |
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"Plastic," the housekeeper said. She leaned toward Abby and whispered, "I'm not sure when it was invented, but now we can't live without it." |
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At least Hannah believed her story, Abby thought. She shot a look at Mike, but he was again intent on his paper. |
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As Abby ate, she watched a squirrel skittering on the lawn. Funny that in all this rich greenness signifying an abundance of water, no flowers grew. |
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"Anything else you two want?" Hannah asked in a few minutes. "If not, I'll go straighten the bedrooms." She patted Abby's shoulder. "Now, dear, holler if you need anythingor if Mike gives you too hard a time." |
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That comment finally got Mike's attention. He lowered the newspaper and shot a scowl at Hannah, who went inside. |
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Nibbling at her bagel, Abby heard a buzzing as a bee flew by. Only then did she note there were a couple more of the insects buzzing around the pitcher of orange juice. Thinking of poor Jimmy, killed by a creature similar to these so many years ago as Abby watched impotently, she sighed, shooing them. |
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"I didn't mean to ignore you," Mike said. |
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"I'm fine," she said softly. In fact, she had begun to read the back sheet of the paper he held. It was called the Los Angeles Times, and on that page there was a color picture of a strange- |
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