Page 3 - Anywhere but Paradise

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Extra Credit

“This was supposed to take you over a
week,” Mrs. Barsdale says Friday morning while

standing beside the sewing machine. She taps the
beauty mark above her upper lip.
My darts are in and pressed, shoulders stitched
together, and front facings basted.
It’s hard for me to tell from the sound of her voice

if being ahead is a good thing or not.
“So I’d like you to help Kiki.”
“What?” says Kiki. “I don’t need help from her. I

don’t need help from the haole.”
“Truth be told, I’m terrible at putting in zippers.
And there’s so much more to do. The back facings, the
hem, handwork . . .”
Mrs. Barsdale picks up a pin from the floor and

sticks it into the red pincushion attached to her wrist.
“I am prepared to offer you extra credit, Peggy Sue.”
That sounds good, but I know it really means nothing.

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