'' it 's not usually this crowded , '' sophia yelled to me from across the train car . i was standing and holding a ceiling bar , pressed in between two large drunk men , who were wearing cowboy hats and shouting at each other . '' americans ! '' liz said under her breath as we exited the skytrain . '' how do you know they are
americans

'' i 'm nervous , '' julia said . '' what if you do n't like the names i pick ? '' '' do n't worry , i have nicknames already planned out just in case , '' damien said , smiling . '' but it 's your right as a mother . besides , you already know how terrible i am with
names

they smiled at her and drooled and touched her with small wet fingers while attendants at the next window watched for the first sign of an aggressive move . for a time buddy thought she responded well . she read aloud , stroked a girl 's head , consoled a small boy when he fell over a toy block . then she seemed to see something which disturbed her ; a frown creased her brow and she looked away from the
children