for some , the movements and small talk were stiff ; demeanor to be expected from people suddenly thrown into a room with perfect strangers . he probably shouldnt have thrown the girls bones on her own lawn , but maybe some stray dogs would carry them off or something . i swallowed , and plucked up all my courage to run past the rat . he pulled me away and i struggled to take him back . now it was no use trying to chase them down . 