twenty different pots boiled atop it , some small and covered , some large and near to bubbling over . their laughter died down as they stared at each other . either let us know you 're alive or i 'm calling your parents . oh , thank the lord , florence breathes . it showed on her face ; it hung in the air . `` are you sure it 's nice to tease him ? '' i left his house without looking back , not really worried that he was going to shoot me in the back . 