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           "There’sMarylynDeWitt—she’spretty,gotacarofherownandthat’sdamnconvenient;there’sSallyWeatherby—she’sgettingtoofat;there’sMyraSt.Claire,she’sanoldflame,easytokissifyoulikeit—"

           "Whatlinedoyouthrow’em?"demandedKerry."I’vetriedeverything,andthemadwagsaren’tevenafraidofme."

           "You’rethe’niceboy’type,"suggestedAmory.

           "That’sjustit.Motheralwaysfeelsthegirlissafeifshe’swithme.Honestly,it’sannoying.IfIstarttoholdsomebody’shand,theylaughatme,andletme,justasifitwasn’tpartofthem.AssoonasIgetholdofahandtheysortofdisconnectitfromtherestofthem."

           "Sulk,"suggestedAmory."Tell’emyou’rewildandhave’emreformyou—gohomefurious—comebackinhalfanhour—startle’em."

           Kerryshookhishead.

           "Nochance.IwroteaSt.Timothygirlareallylovingletterlastyear.InoneplaceIgotrattledandsaid:’MyGod,howIloveyou!’Shetookanailscissors,clippedoutthe’MyGod’andshowedtherestoftheletteralloverschool.Doesn’tworkatall.I’mjust’goodoldKerry’andallthatrot."

           Amorysmiledandtriedtopicturehimselfas"goodoldAmory."Hefailedcompletely.

           Februarydrippedsnowandrain,thecyclonicfreshmanmid-yearspassed,andlifein12Univeecontinuedinterestingifnotpurposeful.OnceadayAmoryindulgedinaclubsandwich,cornflakes,andJuliennepotatoesat"Joe’s,"accompaniedusuallybyKerryorAlecConnage.