stories in the evenings were something i looked forward to , and it gave me a chance to get to know everyone better . , the twenty-third and second letters of the alphabet . the fury bubbling behind her eyes meant trouble for us in the days to come . his head whipped back and forth in an endless gesture of negation , and his long black hair flew wildly . your mother will not be involved with this one , got it ? i need to tell you something , but you have to promise me you will never ever repeat it . 