"OH. WHO WITH?"

THE BAD LADY REACHED INTO THE BACK POCKET OF HER JEANS AND PULLED OUT A WORN LEATHER WALLET. SHE OPENED IT SOLEMNLY TO A SMALL PHOTOGRAPH. SHE HANDED IT TO THE CHILD.

AFTER STUDYING THE PICTURE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS, THE CHILD HANDED IT BACK. "HE'S NICE; BUT HE LOOKS LIKE A LADY."

"HE IS..."

"CH."

"SORT OF A MIXTURE, A HALF-AND-HALF.

IN FACT, HE ISN'T A MAN

11HO LOOKS LIKE A LADY, SHE'S A LADY WHO LOOKS LIKE A VAN."

"SHE'S NICE."

"THANK YOU."

"DID HER LOVE TURN WHITE AND BLOW AWAY?"

"YES IT DID."

"DID YOURS?"

"NO."

"BUT IT WILL, WON'T IT?"

"❘ SUPPOSE IT WILL...IN TIME.

"THE DANDELIONS DO."

"YES, I KNOW.

SHE RAN THROUGH THE FIELDS SNATCHING AT THE DANDELIONS TO GET A NEW BOUQUET. SKE HURRIED, GATHERING THE FLOWERS WITH TREMBLING HANDS. SHE FELT GUILTY, AND YET, STRANGELY ELATED. THE BAD LADY HAD SAID THAT SHE COULD COME BACK AT ANYTIME TO SEE SKIPPY; AND SHE KNEW SHE LOVED SKIPPY WITH HER WHOLE HEART AND SOUL. SHE WAS CERTAIN THAT HER LOVE FOR HIM WOULD NEVER TURN WHITE AND ELOW AWAY, LIKE A DANDELION.

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