now we just have to see if the girls are game . '' the girls were about a half mile from the house on their way to the high school track . as they passed the sweet shop , karimba spotted a group of their friends inside . `` there 's the gang . let 's go say hi ? '' `` i have to get up to the track

in actuality , however , she was lying on a gurney in the back of the ambulance on the way to the hospital in elizabeth city-a town thirty miles to the northeast-that had the nearest emergency room . denise stared at the ceiling of the ambulance , still shivering and dazed . she 'd wanted to stay , she 'd begged to stay , but was told that it was better for kyle if she went with the ambulance

`` just trying to lighten the mood a bit . '' annie starts scooping mashed potatoes out of a large aluminum tray and into a serving bowl . `` holly , can you get me a serving spoon out of that drawer behind you ? '' `` why are we women-folk stuck here in the kitchen ? '' holly asks , grabbing a spoon and handing it to annie

she leans back against a pillow , her cards fanned in front of her face . `` then do n't . '' she lays down a five . i put down a seven and scoop up both cards , adding them to my pile . `` i do n't know if this is the best time . '' her eyes are on me , and not the
cards