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the Penny Candy Wall at Batts Confections.
“It’s all right, Stella,” she said. “Dr. Fuentes
is here to make sure you get all the medicine
you need to fall asleep. Dr. Marconi will fix
your leg. And Peter and I are here for you.”
I looked over. Peter was right next to Dr.
Fuentes, kneeling by me like Patricia was.
“We’re here for you, Stella,” Patricia said
again. “We’ll be here the whole time. We won’t
leave you.”
“That’s right,” Peter said.
“What if I feel something and I can’t talk
because there’s a mask on my face?” I asked.
“You won’t feel a thing,” Peter told me.
“No one ever does.”
“But what if I
do
?” I asked. “This could be
the first time someone feels something in an
operation.”
“We can have a signal,” Patricia said. “You
