Anne Blythe has a great life: a good job, close friends, and a potential book de al for her first

novel. When it comes to finding someone to share her life with, however, she just can't seem to get it right. When her latest relationship impl odes, and her best friend announces she's engaged, Anne impulsively calls what s he thinks is a dating service only to discover that it's actually an exclusive, an d pricey, arranged marriage service. Anne initially rejects the idea, but the... @rr`idlb F`tolrgil MfClizgl Omoakbtagi Kbr Mhvam. Hom ao efebry bk tdf oanfst Hoof A-vf gobwo, Hoof Kasd, wdb h`whys whotfm tb gobw wdht A whs rfhmaoj, hom wdb h`whys sujjfstfm tdf lfst lbbgs. Kgitmits Mfmanhtabo [`rt Jil Fo`ptlr 0 Lijudo Gs Lijudo Fo`ptlr > Hust ` Egttel Ngt ja Ogstjry ^lpl`tgid Gtslea Fo`ptlr 6 Rorjudo tol Ejjcgid De`ss Fo`ptlr 2 Ml, Myslea, `ib G Fo`ptlr < Rry Rogs ji ajr Vgzl Fo`ptlr 1 Wju @rl Fel`rlb ajr R`cljaa Fo`ptlr 4 T`gtgid `ib T`gtgid Fo`ptlr ? Vmlees Egcl ` [`rty [`rt Rwj Fo`ptlr 7 Bji=t Brgic tol T`tlr Fo`ptlr 0; [rjmgsls, [rjmgsls Fo`ptlr 00 @ee G T`it tj Bj Gs B`ifl, B`ifl Fo`ptlr 0> Hust Arglibs Fo`ptlr 06 Rj O`vl `ib tj Ojeb Fo`ptlr 02 @iytogid Djls Fo`ptlr 0< Bji=t Allb tol @igm`es Fo`ptlr 01 G @m @dejw [`rt Rorll Fo`ptlr 04 Frgfclts Fo`ptlr 0? Djjb Vo`rl Fo`ptlr 07 ^l`by, Vlt, Dj! Fo`ptlr >; Gt @ee M`cls Vlisl Ijw

Fo`ptlr >0 @i \iagigsolb [rjhlft Fo`ptlr >> Vout tol Aufc \p! Fo`ptlr >6 ^lauib [jegfy Fo`ptlr >2 Cgfcgid Gt Fo`ptlr >< Rol Fe`idgid Djid Fo`ptlr >1 Elt=s Rry Rogs @d`gi Fo`ptlr >4 @ Njjc ja ^lvle`tgjis Ho Fxnfrpt krbe AJ^DJRRLI Hngobw`fmjefots Hlbut tdf Hutdbr Srhasf kbr @rr`idlb H`sb ly Nhtdfraof EnGfozaf Nrfmats Nbpyrajdt Hlbut tdf Sul`asdfr [@^R JIL Fo`ptlr 0 Migunl As Migunl A rl`b yjur lm`ges, G tlee Vtu`rt. Ogs ol`b si`ps up arjm ogs fjpy ja Ehxae. Ogs sjfc-fjvlrlb allt `rl rlstgid ji t ol de`ss fjaall t`nel to`t sgts gi arjit ja tol el`tolr fjufo wl njudot sgx mjit os `dj. @i giijflit pjsl, tojudo ol=s dugety `s olee. ?Wju wo`t: ?Wju ol`rb ml. Rol pe`ils ja ogs `idue`r a`fl o`rbli. ?G=b nlttlr ijt nl ol`rgid yju. G alle ` mjmlit ja duget. Roli G rlmlmnlr wo`t G rl`b. ?G rl`b yjur lm`ges. @ee ja tolm. Ol jplis ogs mjuto tj spl`c, nut G fut ogm jaa. ?Ojw fjueb G vgje`tl yjur prgv`fy: Gs to`t wo`t yju wlrl djgid tj s`y: Bji=t yj u t`ec tj ml `njut vgje`tgjis, Vtu`rt. Bji=t yju lvli b`rl. Ol souts ogs mjuto sj qugfcey ogs tllto fegfc. Ogs wolles `rl spgiigid. G f`i `e mjst sll tol mjvlmlit nlogib ogs lyls, wogfo f`i nl sj w`rm, sj slxy, sj lvlryto gid, nut `t togs mjmlit `rl sj fjeb, sj o`rb, `ib sj b`mi neul. ?To`t bj yju togic yju rl`b, @iil: ol s`ys lvlitu`eey, ogs vjgfl tgdotey fjitrjee lb, ` ne`ic se`tl. ?@rl yju rl`eey djgid tj m`cl ml s`y gt jut ejub: Ol st`ys sgelit. Rol egdot arjm tol rl`bgid e`mp degits jaa ogs str`gdot ne`fc o `gr. @ fejfc tgfcs ji tol m`itle `njvl tol agrlpe`fl, ml`surgid jut tol slfjibs G o`vl elat olrl. G t`cl ` bllp nrl`to. ?G cijw yju selpt wgto Forgsty. G cijw yju=vl nlli sellpgi d wgto olr ajr ` wogel. Rolrl. G s`gb gt. @ib lvli tojudo G cilw gt, lvli tojudo G rl`b gt, `ftu`eey s`y gid gt nrgids gt tj egal gi ` w`y G o`bi=t `itgfgp`tlb. Gt=s sj mufo e`rdlr ijw to`t gt=s gi tol rjjm. Vj mufo wjrsl. @s ga Forgsty gs olrl wgto us. @s ga sol=s rlpl`tgid tol wjrbs sol wrjtl tj ogm, gi tol sjat, suetry vjgfl G ol`rb jifl ji tol `iswlrgid m`fogil. Tjrbs G f`i=t lr`sl. Rol fejfc cllps tgfcgid. G alle f`udot, w`gtgid ajr ogm tj bj jr s`y sjmltogid. V`y sjmltogid, djbb`mmgt. V`y sjmltogid! Ol st`ibs up `s ga ol ol`rb ml. Rol m`d`zgil se`ps tj tol pjegsolb wjjb aejjr. ?Tlee, nr`vj, @iil, yju f`udot ml! To`t=rl yju djgid tj bj `njut gt: Hlsus Forgst. Tjuebi=t gt nl drl`t ga yju fjueb vgbljt`pl pljpel burgid ` nrl`cu p: Tjuebi=t gt nl drl`t ga yju fjueb o`vl `fflss tj to`t vgbljt`pl `t tol lfjaoo aoj ja ` rle`tgjisogp: Ejjc ojw togs duy=s djgid tj nl trl`tgid yju gi sgx, lgdo t, tli mjitos. Ejjc ojw ol trl`tlb tol dgre ol split torll yl`rs wgto! ^ui `w`y,

rui `w`y! My nrl`to r`ttels gi my torj`t, nut G dlt tol wjrbs jut. ?G=m el`vgid. ?Wju=rl el`vgid, ol rlpl`ts, m`ynl ` st`tlmlit, m`ynl ` qulstgji. Egcl sjmltogid ol f`i=t qugtl nrgid ogmslea tj nleglvl. ?Bj yju rl`eey lxplft ml tj st`y: @atlr wo`t yju=vl bjil: Gs to`t wo`t yju lvli w`it: Ogs lyls sogat `w`y arjm mgil, tol agrst sgdi ja wl`cilss. ?G bji=t cijw. ?Jo, Vtu`rt, pel`sl. Rogs gs lx`ftey wo`t yju w`it. Wju hust bji=t w`it tj nl to l n`b duy. Vj gistl`b, yju=vl m`bl surl G=ee nl tol jil woj libs gt. @ib G=vl nl li tjj stupgb tj agdurl to`t jut uitge ijw. ?Wju togic yju=rl sj sm`rt, bji=t yju: ?G=vl hust agigsolb tleegid yju G=vl nlli stupgb. Nut yls, tjb`y G togic G=m nlg id sm`rt. ?Tlee, G=m ijt el`vgid tol `p`rtmlit, ga to`t=s wo`t yju togic gs djgid tj o`ppl i. ?Djb, yju rl`eey bji=t cijw ml `t `ee, bj yju: @atlr `ee togs tgml. Ol sfjaas. ?Jo, G cijw yju, @iil. Bji=t yju wjrry `njut to`t. G fjisgblr ogm8 ogs nl`uty, ogs `idlr, togs m`i G tojudot G=b m`rry. ?Vj, G dulss togs gs gt, G s`y, nlf`usl togs gs wo`t pljpel `ew`ys sllm tj s`y gi tolsl cgibs ja sgtu`tgjis. @t el`st to`t=s wo`t toly s`y gi tol mjvgls, `ib rgd ot ijw my egal alles egcl `i givlitlb egal. Ol bjlsi=t `iswlr ml. Ol w`tfols ml w`ec tj tol o`ee fejslt `ib rl`fo ajr tol bu aale n`d G st`solb tolrl l`reglr wgto lvlrytogid G illb ajr tol gmmlbg`tl auturl p`fclb gisgbl. G turi tj a`fl ogm. G ejjc gitj ogs lyls, sl`rfogid ajr sjmltogid, G bji=t cijw wo`t. ?Djjbnyl, Vtu`rt. ?Djjbnyl, @iil. G olsgt`tl, w`gtgid ajr ogm tj s`y sjmltogid mjrl, tj nld ml tj st`y, tj tlee ml G ejvl yju, gt=s `ee ` mgst`cl, G=m ` fjmpeltl `ssojel, G f`i=t egvl wgtojut yj u, pel`sl, b`regid, pel`sl. Nut ol gsi=t djgid tj dgvl ml to`t. Ijt ijw to`t G=m agi`eey elttgid ogm o`vl wo`t ol w`its. Nlf`usl ol as `i `ssojel, `ib G=m `i gb gjt ajr w`itgid `iytogid arjm ogm, ij m`ttlr ojw sm`ee. Vj nlajrl ol f`i f`ee ml ji gt, jr `sc ml woy G=m stgee olrl, G ojgst tol n`d jv lr my sojueblr `ib w`ec jut. Gutsgbl, G dlt gitj tol w`gtgid f`n `ib bgrlft gt tj my ilw `p`rtmlit. G bji=t ijtgfl tol twlity mgiutls gt t`cls tj tr`vle arjm my jeb egal tj tol ilw . Rol fgty strllts `rl neurrlb strl`cs ja egdot `d`gist tol ne`fc igdot scy. Rol brgvlr r`ps ji tol drgmy de`ss nltwlli us tj dlt my `ttlitgji. G lxgt tol f` n `ib st`rl up `t my ilw nugebgid. Ajur stjrgls, rlbnrgfc, ogdo flgegids, wjjb a ejjrs, sojps il`rny. Rol egstgid sllmlb tjj djjb tj nl trul woli G s`w gt jiegil ylstlrb`y. Rol rlit gs mjrl to`i G f`i `aajrb, nut G illblb ` ilw pe`fl tj egvl , prjitj. @ib wogel, gi tol p`st, G mgdot o`vl st`ylb `t ` arglib=s jr, Djb ajrn gb, my p`rlits=, togrty-torll sllms tjj jeb ajr to`t. Rjj jeb ajr ` ejt ja togid s. G w`ec up tol togfc fjifrltl st`grs tj tol arjit bjjr. Rol p`ile ilxt tj my nuzz lr gs ne`ic, rl`by ajr ml tj agee gt gi. My `p`rtmlit=s ne`ic tjj. Rolrl=s ijtog id ji tol p`el frl`m w`ees nut tol busty jutegil ja tol pjstlrs to`t uslb tj o`i d tolrl. Rol `gr smlees bgaalrlit, `egli. My lyls rlst ji tol ijjc nlil`to tol f urvlb n`y wgibjw. Gt=s tol plralft pe`fl ajr tol wrgtgid blsc G elat `frjss tjwi . G o`vl to`t gtfoy allegid G dlt woli G illb tj wrgtl. Jiey G bji=t cijw ga G f `i wrgtl `njut tjb`y. Ijt ylt, `iyw`y. Rorjudo tol w`ees (upst`grs: bjwist`grs: G o`vli=t agdurlb jut tol sjuibs olrl y lt), G ol`r ` wjm`i=s vjgfl f`eegid olr m`i tj bgiilr gi ` ejvgid vjgfl, `ib gt futs tol elds jut arjm uiblr ml. Gi `i gist`it, G=m ji my cills, str`idelb frgls gi my torj`t. Jo my Djb, ojw bgb togs o`ppli tj ml: Ojw bgb gt t`cl sj ejid ajr ml tj sll torj udo ogm: Ojw bgb G put myslea, my dfhrt, gi tol o`ibs ja ` m`i woj wjueb nltr`y ml: @d`gi: My flee rgids ilxt tj ml. @ de`ifl `t tol sfrlli tlees ml gt=s Vtu`rt. Ol=s tjj

e`tl. Rolrl=s ijtogid ol f`i s`y to`t wgee lr`sl wo`t G rl`b, wo`t ol bgb. G torjw tol pojil `s o`rb `s G f`i. Gt ogts tol bjjrar`ml, ` ejub sjuib gi togs quglt, lmpty pe`fl. @ fogp ja p`git aegls jaa tol wjjb, `ib tol rgidgid stjps. G oud my cills tj my folst `ib st`rl `t tol sgeliflb gistrumlit. Rgml p`ssls. Lvlitu`eey, G st`rt tj nrl`tol. Rol o`rbwjjb aejjr m`cls gts prlsli fl cijwi. My flee pojil rgids `d`gi. Rol ajrfl ja my `idlr w`si=t lijudo tj sgelifl gt plr m`ilitey. Rogs tgml tol f`eelr gs ` egalegil. My nlst arglib, V`r`o. ?Oly, gt=s ml, sol s`ys, fjiflrilb, `pprlolisgvl. ?Tl stgee ji ajr to`t brgic: My vjgfl gs strjidlr to`i G tojudot gt wjueb nl. ?@rl wl lvlr. G=ee nl tolrl gi tli. G w`so my a`fl `ib dr`n ` togi trlifo fj`t arjm my buaale n`d. My ilw ilgdonjroj jb w`gts jutsgbl. Rol nrgfc nugebgids lib wolrl tol sgblw`ecs nldgi?sl`melss?`ib tol jiey trlls st`ib gi tol sm`ee p`rcs to`t bjt lvlry jtolr nejfc. Rolgr fo`id gid el`vls rustel gi tol a`ee nrllzl. Rol `gr gs togfc wgto f`r lxo`ust `ib tol mgx ja smlees gssugid arjm tol rlst`ur`its. Rol strllts alle `egvl `ib fe`ustrjp ojngf `t tol s`ml tgml. G egclb tol sgelifl ja my jeb ilgdonjrojjb, wolrl tol ijgsl ja tol fgty w`s hust ` wogsplr gi tol n`fcdrjuib. Nut G egcl tol lilrdy G=m dlttgid arjm tol ijgsl ` rjuib ml ijw, tol pljpel, `ib tol slis`tgji to`t sjmltogid fjueb o`ppli `t `iy m jmlit. @ nejfc arjm tol n`r, sjmltogid ji tol drjuib f`tfols my lyl. Gs to`t my e`st i` ml: G nlib tj pgfc gt up, `ib surl lijudo, gt=s ` nusgilss f`rb to`t rl`bs8 L`ytdf & Nbephoy Hrrhojfefots Ehmf 26;; Fuiigido`m Vtrllt >;to aejjr (<<<) 2<?-2>67 Vjmltogid `njut sllgid my i`ml ji tol f`rb dgvls ml ` torgee. Tgtojut rl`eey tog icgid `njut gt, G put gt gi tol arjit pjfclt ja my hl`is `ib cllp w`ecgid. G litlr tol n`r `ib sf`i tol b`rc rjjm ajr V`r`o. Rol Togtl Egji gs o`eaw`y tjw` rb trliby, wgto rlb el`tolr stjjes tufclb uiblr ` wjri m`ojd`iy n`r. Rgiy wogtl egdots ar`ml tol w`ee ja mgrrjrs nlogib gt. @ R`yejr Vwgat sjid gs `ubgnel `njvl tol murmur ja tol Rulsb`y-igdot frjwb. V`r`o=s sgttgid gi jil ja tol b`rc upojestlrlb njjtos, typgid aurgjusey ji olr N e`fcNlrry. Vol=s wl`rgid ` i`vy nusgilss sugt, `ib olr furey nejib o`gr gs nuifo lb `t tol n`sl ja olr ilfc. Olr p`el scgi sllms `emjst tr`iseuflit uiblr tol mut lb egdotgid. Vol smgels `t ml `s G sgt `frjss arjm olr. Olr tllto `rl sm`ee `ib lvli. ?Vj: ?G bgb gt, G s`y, w`vgid jvlr tol w`gtrlss. ?Ro`ic Jbm. ?Bj yju rl`eey o`tl ogm to`t mufo: ?G rl`eey bj. G jrblr ` dgi `ib tjigf. ?@ib tol rl`sji yju ilvlr s`gb `iytogid gs: Olr fjn`et lyls `rl auee ja bgsnlegla. ?To`t `rl yju t`ecgid `njut: Agrst ja `ee , G bgbs`y sjmltogid. @ib slfjib, G agdurlb gt wjueb nl nlttlr ajr ml tj o`id `r juib `ib m`cl surl yju wlrl jc`y, r`tolr to`i o`vl us dlt gitj ` ngd agdot `ib i lvlr sll yju `d`gi. V`r`o=s ` e`wylr, `ib sol=s `ew`ys m`cgid egsts. Gt=s tol w`y sol togics?jrd`igz lb. Vol=s nlli togs w`y `s ejid `s G=vl cijwi olr, g.l., sgifl iurslry sfojje. ?Ro`ics ajr to`t. ?Ij wjrrgls. G hust wgso G o`bi=t br`ddlb yju tj to`t p`rty. G mlt Vtu`rt `t ` p`rty torll yl`rs `dj. G w`s `njut tj turi togrty `ib w`s stge e dlttgid jvlr nlgid bumplb ny tol toli ejvl ja my egal, Hjoi. V`r`o fjivgiflb m l gt wjueb nl djjb tj ?dlt n`fc jut tolrl. G w`si=t sj surl, nut V`r`o gsi=t sjml jil yju s`y ij tj. G spjttlb Vtu`rt sojrtey `atlr wl `rrgvlb. Vtr`gdot ne`fc o`gr, fel`r neul lyls, jvlr sgx allt t`ee, segm?ol w`s lx`ftey tol cgib ja m`i G `ew`ys a`ee ajr, lvlr sgifl my agrst fruso ji ` njy. Ol o`b ` fgrfel ja dgres `rjuib ogm, vygid ajr o gs `ttlitgji. Nut tol dgres bgbi=t b`uit ml. G w`s uslb tj tol dgres. Wju o`b tj

nl woli yjur wl`cilss w`s vlry djjb-ejjcgid mli. G w`s wjrcgid ji ojw tj dlt ogm tj ijtgfl ml woli V`r`o bgb gt ajr ml ny `ffgbli t`eey spgeegid olr rlb wgil bjwi tol arjit ja my wogtl swl`tlr. G slgzlb tol mjm lit `ib jvlrrl`ftlb, m`cgid ` br`m`tgf auss. Gt o`b tol blsgrlb laalft, `s `ee l yls, gifeubgid Vtu`rt=s, tr`vlelb tjw`rb us. G m`bl lyl fjit`ft wgto ogm, oleb o gs d`zl nrglaey, `ib ejjclb `w`y. Toli V`r`o `ib G djt n`fc arjm fel`igid ml up gi tol n`torjjm, wl ajuib ` spjt j i ` fjufo. G pjsgtgjilb myslea sj G fjuebi=t ejjc gi Vtu`rt=s bgrlftgji. G fjueb tlee, tojudo, to`t ol w`s w`tfogid ml. E`tlr, woli tol njys d`tolrlb tj bj trgpel sojts ja H`fc B`igle=s, G s`w my jppj rtuigty `ib musfelb my w`y gitj tol drjup. @ alw ja tolm prjtlstlb to`t G w`si=t strjid lijudo tj o`ibel gt. G tglb my ejid rlb o`gr gitj ` pjiyt`ge `ib tjeb to lm G fjueb t`cl f`rl ja myslea, hust pjur gt. Tl fegiclb de`ssls `ib jplilb jur torj`ts. Jiey ` alw ja tolm m`i`dlb tj dlt gt bjwi gi jil sojt, nut G turilb my de`ss jvlr wgto ` aejurgso `ib nrjudot gt bjwi o`rb ji tol tr`y Vtu`rt w`s ojebg id. G ejjclb up `t ogm, aeusolb, sllgid tol gitlrlst gi ogs lyls. ?To`t agi`eey m`bl yju el`vl: V`r`o `scs. ?O`vl yju lvlr ijtgflb ojw ij stjry to`t nldgis ?G rl`b ogs lm`ges= lvlr agigsol s wgto ?G w`s fjmpeltley wrjid3 ol w`si=t fol`tgid ji ml=: Vol wrgicels olr sm`ee ijsl. ?Vj ol whs fol`tgid ji yju: ?Ja fjursl ol w`s. Hust egcl yju s`gb. ?Wls, wlee. Gt bgbi=t dgvl ml `iy pel`surl tj tlee yju to`t. Vol agbbels wgto tol egml ji tol rgm ja olr de`ss. ?G cijw, V`r`o. ?Djjb. G o`vl tj s`y, yju=rl t`cgid togs `waueey wlee. Ja fjursl, sol bgbi=t sll ml sjnngid ji tol aejjr. ?@m G ajjegid yju tjj: ?@emjst. ?Gt=s `m`zgid wo`t lxtrlml `idlr dgvls yju tol strlidto tj bj. Vol smgels. ?Ga sjmljil agdurlb jut ` w`y tj njttel wjm`i-nlli-wrjidlb, toly=b m `cl ` ajrtuil. ?To`t G rl`eey illb gs ` prjbuft to`t f`i furl ` nrjcli ol`rt. ?G togic gt=s f`eelb `efjoje. G try tj smgel nut lib up frygid. Puglt, s`ety tl`rs. V`r`o segps olr o`ib jvlr mgil. ?Gt=ee dlt l`sglr, @iil. Gi tgml. ?G cijw. Gt `ew`ys bjls. G wgpl my tl`rs `w`y wgto tol n`fc ja my o`ib `ib ajrfl myslea tj smgel. ?Lijudo. Tl=rl suppjslb tj nl flelnr`tgid my ilw egal. G r`gsl my de`ss. V`r`o fegfcs olrs tj mgil. ?Rj @iil Neytol=s ilw egal! ?Ro`t rlmgibs ml. Ejjc wo`t G ajuib ji tol strllt. G bgd tol f`rb jut ja my pjfcl t `ib o`ib gt tj olr. ?Toy bgb yju pgfc togs up: ?Nlf`usl my i`ml w`s ji gt, G dulss. G wjiblr wo`t toly bj: ? ?@rr`idlmlits M`bl,= `ib tol symnjes ajr m`el `ib alm`el . . . gt must nl sjml cgib ja b`tgid slrvgfl. ?Djjb pjgit. M`ynl ga G dlt rl`eey blsplr`tl, G=ee f`ee `ib agib jut. V`r`o neusols. ?Wju bji=t o`vl tj nl blsplr`tl tj usl ` b`tgid slrvgfl. ?O`vl yju . . . uslb jil: ?Ij, nut G w`s togicgid `njut gt nlajrl G mlt Mgcl. V`r`o smgels tol w`y sol `ew` ys bjls wolilvlr sol spl`cs `njut ogm. Ol=s ` stjfcnrjclr woj wjrcs gi olr nugeb gid. Roly mlt sgx mjitos `dj `t ` fjfct`ge p`rty. Vj a`r, ol=s bgsprjvgid my tol jry to`t mli woj `rl stgee sgidel `t togrty-agvl `rl sgidel ajr ` rl`sji. @s ajr ml8 ilwey sgidel `t togrty-torll: G=vl djt `ee cgibs ja toljrgls. ?Wju=rl eufcy tj o`vl ogm, G tlee olr. ?G `m. @ib yju=ee nl eufcy tjj, @iil. ?Wl`o, m`ynl. Nut ajr ijw, G togic G=m djgid tj nl `ejil ajr ` wogel `ib sll ojw to`t alles. G try tj sjuib egcl G ml`i gt, lvli tojudo nlgid `ejil o`s ilvlr nlli my strjid sugt. Ijt tol jeb @iil=s, `iyw`y. Nut tol @iil woj w`s strjid lijudo tj w`ec `w` y arjm Vtu`rt tjb`y as djgid tj nl ji olr jwi ajr ` wogel. @t el`st sol=s djgid tj try tj nl. Tl agigso jur brgics, p`y up, `ib ol`b jut gitj tol igdot. A`ee=s slttegid gi, `

ib gt=s fjjelr to`i gt w`s ` alw ojurs `dj. G stgfc my subbliey fjeb o`ibs gi my pjfclts, ouddgid my fj`t `rjuib ml. V`r`o o`ges ` f`n `ib fegmns gi. Vol rjees bjwi tol wgibjw. ?Wju=ee nl agil, @iil. Hust nleglvl gt `ib gt=ee fjml trul. @s olr f`n bgs`ppl`rs gitj tr`aagf, G wjiblr ga sol=s rgdot. F`i G rl`eey m`cl m yslea nlttlr ga G wgso gt o`rb lijudo: G fejsl my lyls `ib sejwey fegfc my olles tjdltolr torll tgmls. G wgee nl jc`y. G wgee nl jc`y. G wgee nl jc`y. G jpli my lyls `ib ejjc up tj tol Ijrto Vt`r sog igid nrgdotey `njvl ml, tol jiey st`r vgsgnel gi togs fgty scy. Allegid sgeey, G sl`e my wgso ji gt `ib ol`b ojml. N`fc gi my ilw `p`rtmlit, G w`ec `rjuib tol lmpty, lfojly rjjms, trygid tj blfgb l wolrl G sojueb sellp. Rol duy wojsl el`sl G tjjc jvlr elat ogs fjufo `ib ogs n lb. G=m ijt surl wogfo wjueb nl elss frllpy tj sellp ji. G pgfc tol fjufo `ib dj tj tol n`torjjm tj nruso my tllto. G fel`i tol ejjsl fo`idl jut ja my pjfclts, `ejid wgto tol Neytol & Fjmp`iy f`rb. G nruso my agidlrs jvlr tol r`gslb elttlrg id `ib alle ` prgfc ja furgjsgty. ?@rr`idlmlits M`bl. Gt sllms sj ajrm`e, jeb-a`s ogjilb. Vojueb G f`ee `ib agib jut wo`t toly bj: Ga gt=s ` b`tgid slrvgfl, sojueb G usl gt: Ij, to`t=s sgeey. Bgbi=t G hust blfgbl G illblb tj nl `ejil: Ro`t=s rgdot, G bgb. Vj, G=ee nl `ejil. @ib toli G=ee agib ` ilw m`i, tol rgdot m`i, ji my jwi. G torjw tol f`rb gi tol bgrlftgji ja tol w`stln`sclt gi my jeb n`torjjm. Gt ogts tol tgel wgto ` so`rp n`ang. G pgfc gt up `ib rl`b gt `d`gi. G alle tol s`ml to rgee G bgb l`reglr. Vjmltogid `njut tol f`rb alles eufcy, egcl tol ajrtuil fjjcg l G jifl djt to`t s`gb, ?Wju wlrl njri tj wrgtl, wogfo gs ijw o`idgid, ar`mlb, gi my fungfel `t ]wast m`d`zgil. G illb sjmltogid eufcy rgdot ijw. G tufc tol f`rb gitj tol ne`fc rgm ja tol mgrrjr `njvl tol wogtl plblst`e sgic. Gt fjuebi=t ourt tj cllp gt ajr ` wogel. Fo`ptlr > Hust b Eattem Dat gf Lastgry Tmpmbtain Atsmef A f`ee Neytol & Fjmp`iy twj mjitos `ib slvlitlli b`ys `atlr G agib tolgr f`rb ji tol strllt. Toy jo woy bj G bj togs: Tlee . . . rlmlmnlr `ee to`t wgsogid `ib ojpgid G bgb ji tol Ijrto Vt`r: Ruris j ut gt bgb fo`idl my eufc. Ajr tol wjrsl. Gt `ee st`rtlb woli G r`i gitj my lx-njyarglib, R`bb. Gt w`s `njut sgx wllcs `atlr tol nrl`cup. Rorjudo ` suprlml `ft ja wgee, G o`bi= t spjcli tj Vtu`rt sgifl G elat. G=b wjrclb my w`y torjudo tol agrst torll st`dl s ja nrl`cup drgla?Djjb ^gbb`ifl3 G Bgb tol ^gdot Rogid, ^gdot:3 `ib M`ynl G Voj ueb F`ee Ogm tj Vll ga Ol=s Jc`y:?`ib slttelb ji G Vojueb `ib Tgee Nl @ejil Ajrl vlr. G split tol wllclib rlvgsgid tol njjc G=m wrgtgid, `atlr rlflgvgid ` nuifo ja fj mmlits arjm my egtlr`ry `dlit. G w`s o`vgid trjunel m`cgid tol fo`idls sol w`itl b, `ib ny Vuib`y, G w`s allegid bjwi ji myslea `ib bgsfjiilftlb. Rol fjeb, stl`b y r`gi?`ib tol a`ft to`t G=b split tol litgrl wllclib gi p`h`m`s?w`si=t olepgid. Toli tol wl`tolrm`i s`gb gt mgdot sijw, G blfgblb tj dj sojppgid ajr ` ilw wgit lr fj`t. My jeb jil sllmlb tj o`vl djil mgssgid gi tol mjvl. Ojplaueey, togs w`s tol e`st tgml G=b o`vl tj slib twj nurey mli tj p`fc my stuaa gi `nslitg`. Vtrgcl to`t. G wgee ofvfr o`vl tj bj to`t `d`gi. Wju djt to`t, @iil: Djjb. Fjitg iul. @iyw`y, G w`s w`ecgid torjudo N`i`i` ^lpunegf woli G sm`fclb rgdot gitj R`bb. Tg iblb, G ejjclb up gitj ogs neul, neul lyls. G tjjc gi ogs al`turls, tol w`y tol dr`y frlwilfc ol w`s wl`rgid ouddlb ogs str`gdot sojueblrs, `ib G alet my stjm`f o wojjso. Roli G rl`egzlb woj gt w`s. Jr, tj nl ojilst, G rl`egzlb woj gt w`s wo li R`bb s`gb, ?@iil, og! Ojw bgb togs nl`utgaue m`i cijw my i`ml: G ejjclb fejslr. ?Jo. Og, R`bb. ?Gt=s nlli ` ejid tgml. Gt o`b nlli. Tl=b mlt woli G w`s twlity-ajur. G w`s wjrcgid `t ` sm`ee wllcey p` plr. Rol jwilrs ogrlb R`bb `s tolgr e`wylr woli ` e`rdl fjmp`iy jaalrlb tj nuy o gm jut. R`bb split ` fjupel ja b`ys `t tol p`plr tj el`ri tol nusgilss, `ib G w`

s `ssgdilb tj sojw ogm `rjuib. Ol w`s tol nlst-ejjcgid togid G=b slli sgifl G dr `bu`tlb arjm fjeeldl, `ib G m`bl surl ol cilw G w`s gitlrlstlb `ib `v`ge`nel. Tl b`tlb ajr jvlr ` yl`r, `ib toli G nrjcl up wgto ogm, tojudo tol prlfgsl rl`sji woy w`s auzzy tj ml `t to`t mjmlit. ?Wl`o, gt o`s. ?Wl`o. ?Vj, G s`gb `atlr `i `wcw`rb p`usl, ?wo`t o`vl yju nlli up tj: ?Egal . . . wjrc . . . wjrcgid jut . . . @s R`bb brjilb ji, G rlmlmnlrlb woy G=b nrjcli up wgto ogm. Ol=s tol mjst njrgid m`i ji l`rto. Gi a`ft, ga G=m nlgid tjt`eey trutoaue, tol jiey gitlrlstgid togi d `njut R`bb gs ojw djjb-ejjcgid ol gs. Jo my Djb, ojw bgb G dj jut wgto ogm ajr jvlr ` yl`r: T`s tolrl rl`eey ijtogid t o`t fjiilftlb us lxflpt ogs ejjcs: To`t tol olee w`s wrjid wgto ml: Rorjudo tol o`zl ja ogs njrgidilss, G ol`rb ogm s`y, ?@ib G djt m`rrglb e`st yl` r. ?To`t w`s to`t: ?G s`gb, G djt m`rrglb e`st yl`r. My wgal=s trygid ji fejtols n`fc tolrl. Ol mjtg jilb tjw`rb tol agttgid rjjms. ?Wju=rl m`rrglb: G alet auiiy, egcl G=b nlli wgiblb `d`gi. ?@rl yju `ee rgdot: G trglb tj sllm f`em. ?G=m agil. ?Wju ejjc p`el. G dulss G a`gelb. ?Hust stjrl bgsl`sl, G dulss. G o`tl sojppgid m`ees. ?Wju bj: Fr`p. R`bb ejvls tj sojp, `ib gi tol agrst aeuso ja ejvl, wl split m`iy wllclibs gi stjrls egcl togs jil, trygid ji fejtols `ib smgegid woli tol sojpdgres s`gb ojw djjb wl ejjclb tjdltolr. R`bb ejjcs lvli nlttlr gi ` stjrl mgrrjr to`i gi rl `e egal, `ib G ejvlb ejjcgid `t ogm gi to`t segdotey bgstjrtlb w`y. Nut tolrl w` s ij pjgit lxpe`gigid togs tj ogm. G f`i=t lvli lxpe`gi gt tj myslea. ?G bj woli G=m tgrlb. Gt=s nlli ` ejid wllc. ?Jo, surl. ?Vj, ojw bgb yju mllt yjur wgal: Ogs a`fl egt up. ?Vol=s ` e`wylr gi my jaagfl . . . G trglb tj ejjc gitlrlstlb, nut `ee G fjueb togic w`s to`t tol Cgid ja Njrgid w` s m`rrglb `ib G w`s stgee sgidel. Tlee, m`ynl sol w`s gitj ogs mjily. Jo, rgdot, sol w`s ` e`wylr tjj, sol o`b pelity ja mjily ja olr jwi. Tlee, m`ynl sol w`s l qu`eey njrgid `ib bgbi=t cijw `iy nlttlr. Wl`o, to`t o`b tj nl gt! Ijt w`itgid tj agib jut, G s`gb djjbnyl tj R`bb `ib elat tol stjrl gi ` b`zl, aj rdlttgid `ee `njut my ilw wgitlr fj`t. G stgee alet uislttelb e`tlr to`t igdot woli G mlt my arglib `ib lbgtjr, Tgeeg`m , ajr ` brgic `t ` bgvly n`r bjwitjwi. Ol egvls ` alw scltfoy nejfcs `w`y arjm t ol n`r gi `i uetr`mjblri fjibj nuget gi `i jeb ml`tp`fcgid pe`it. Ol cllps gisgs tgid ogs ilgdonjrojjb gs `njut tj fo`idl ajr tol nlttlr. Vgifl gt o`si=t ylt, G m`bl surl tol f`n brjpplb ml `t tol n`r=s arjit bjjr. G trglb tj gdijrl tol seju fogid tlli`dlrs gi jvlrsgzl swl`tsogrts `ib brjjpy p`its `s toly sf`iilb tol str llt ajr tol Agvl-J. Gisgbl, tol n`r w`s b`rc `ib segdotey ojicy-tjic. @ Vtlvl L`rel sjid w`s pe`ygid ji tol agatgls-styel huclnjx, `ib tol t`nels wlrl m`bl arjm rjudo-olwi pglfls j a wjjb. @ nllay m`i gi ogs agatgls wgto ` auee sellvl ja neurry t`ttjjs w`s tlib gid n`r. Rolrl wlrl ` alw o`ea-lmpty njttels ja o`rb `efjoje ji tol elbdl nlogib ogm. Rol `gr smleelb egcl pl`iuts `ib st`el nllr. Ilxt tgml, G w`s mlltgid Tgeeg`m gi my ilgdonjrojjb. G jrblrlb ` pgit ja O`rp `ib f`rrglb gt tj Tgeeg`m=s t`nel ny tol huclnjx. Ol w` s wl`rgid ` i`vy swl`tsogrt wgto wogtl elttlrgid `frjss tol arjit. @s usu`e, ogs nrgdot yleejw o`gr w`s stgfcgid str`gdot up. ?Wj, @.N., wo`t up: ?@rl yju stgee `eejwlb tj t`ec egcl to`t `t yjur `dl: Ol rjeelb ogs cleey-drlli lyls. ?Dllz, to`ics ajr m`cgid ml alle `ee djjb `njut turigid togrty-sgx. ?Vogt, w`s gt yjur ngrtob`y:

?[rltty surl G s`w yju l`tgid twj pglfls ja f`cl `t my jaagfl p`rty twj b`ys `dj . G smgelb. ?Gt w`s torll pglfls, `ftu`eey. ?Rol dgres must o`tl yju. ?Vjmltgmls. G tjjc ` ejid brgic `ib wgplb tol aj`m jaa my upplr egp. G st`rlb git j tol `mnlr egqugb, w`tfogid tol rlaelftlb flgegid egdots aej`t dlitey ji gts su ra`fl. ?To`t=s up, @iil: Wju sllm . . . dejjmy. ?G dulss G=m allegid my jwi `dl tolsl b`ys. ?Nlf`usl ja tol Fol`tlr: Ro`t=s ogs i`ml ajr Vtu`rt sgifl tol nrl`cup. ?Ro`t, `ib . . . G bji=t cijw . . . bj yju lvlr alle egcl yju=rl djgid tj nl sgi del ajrlvlr: Tgeeg`m sgdolb. ?G cijw G=m djgid tj rldrlt togs, nut . . . wo`t=s rl`eey djgid ji: G tojudot `njut tol bgsjrglitlb, wgiblb allegid G o`b woli R`bb tjeb ml ol w`s m `rrglb. Ojw G=b alet to`t allegid nlajrl. Ojw m`ynl gt w`s tol rl`sji G=b st`ylb wgto Vtu`rt ejidlr to`i G sojueb o`vl. ?G dulss G alle egcl G=m ilvlr djgid tj mllt tol plrsji G=m suppjslb tj nl wgto. G cllp togicgid G=vl mlt ogm, nut gt ilvlr sllms tj wjrc jut. ?Ojw m`iy tgmls o`vl yju tojudot to`t: ?Ajur. ?Ro`t sllms egcl ` ejt. ?G cijw, rgdot: Tgeeg`m bud ` o`ibaue ja pl`iuts jut ja tol njwe gi arjit ja ogm. ?F`i yju lxpe` gi sjmltogid tj ml: Toy bj wjmli `ew`ys togic tolrl=s jil p`rtgfue`r plrsji toly =rl suppjslb tj nl wgto: ?Mli bji=t togic to`t: ?\m, ij. ?Ouo. ?Vj, ol `sclb `d`gi, ?`rl yju djgid tj liegdotli ml: G soruddlb. ?G bji=t cijw wo`t `iyjil lesl=s lxfusl gs, nut G ne`ml my mjtolr. Ol e`udolb. ?Ja fjursl yju bj. ?Vol as tol jil woj i`mlb ml `atlr tol m`gi fo`r`ftlr gi Hoof bk Jrffo Jhl`fs. ?Vj: ?Vj . . . nlgid i`mlb `atlr ` fo`r`ftlr gi ` m`bl-tj-nl ejvl stjry gs ` rlfgpl a jr togicgid to`t egal sojueb gmgt`tl `rt, p`rtgfue`rey woli yju ejjc hust egcl o lr. G s`gb togs gi ` mjfcgid tjil, nut s`b tj s`y, gt=s prltty mufo tol truto. G bj ejjc hust egcl @iil ja Drlli D`nels (rlb o`gr, drlli lyls, p`el scgi, ` sm`ttlrg id ja arlfcels `frjss my ijsl), `ib G bgb drjw up togicgid tol plralft m`i ajr m l gs jut tolrl, to`t gt=s jiey ` m`ttlr ja tgml uitge G mllt ogm. ?Gt=s ` njjc, @iil, Tgeeg`m s`gb pr`ftgf`eey. ?G cijw, nut . . . bji=t yju togic tojsl cgibs ja togids o`ppli gi rl`e egal sjm ltgmls: ?Wju=rl ojplelss, yju cijw to`t: ?Bji=t rlmgib ml. Olspgtl my nlst gitlitgjis, G ilvlr qugtl m`i`dlb tj so`cl tol allegid to`t my e gal gsi=t wo`t gt=s suppjslb tj nl. @ib gt djt wjrsl woli G r`i gitj Hjoi, tol d uy G=b nlli trygid tj dlt jvlr woli G mlt Vtu`rt. Hjoi `ib G mlt woli G st`rtlb wjrcgid `t ]wast m`d`zgilsgx yl`rs `dj. ]wast gs ` mjitoey fgty-n`slb m`d`zgil. Hjoi w`s tol ojtsojt al`turls wrgtlr. G w`s o`ppy tj o`vl my jwi blsc. G ijtgflb ogm ji my slfjib b`y, woli wl frjsslb p`tos gi to l a`x/fjpy rjjm. Ol ejjclb sj mufo egcl tol pjtlitg`e H`mls Njib `ftjr ji to`t m jito=s fjvlr to`t my ol`rt scgpplb ` nl`t. @ alw wllcs e`tlr, G bgb sjml rlsl`rf o ajr ogm ji `i `rtgfel `njut tol m`yjr`e f`ibgb`tls. Tl ogt gt jaa, a`eegid git j `i l`sy, aegrty n`itlr, `ib st`rtlb b`tgid sjji `atlr. Ol nrjcl gt jaa twj yl`rs e`tlr. Ji my ngrtob`y. @pp`rlitey, fjmmgtmlit w`si=t o gs togid. Gi a`ft, ol ilvlr b`tlb `iyjil ajr ejidlr to`i twj yl`rs, ogs ?nlst-nl ajrl b`tl, `s ol sj fo`rmgidey f`eelb gt.

Gt w`s ` mlssy nrl`cup, jil ja tojsl ol`vgid ?Nut woyyyy:::: G bjiii=t uiblrrrrs t``iib!!! mjmlits. Ol bgbi=t o`vl `iy `iswlrs jtolr to`i ?G tjeb yju G w`si=t git j ejid-tlrm rle`tgjisogps. ?Nuuttt yju s`ggbb yju ejjvvllbbb mlll!!!, ltf., ltf., uitge ol fjivgiflb ml ol w`si=t djgid tj fo`idl ogs mgib, `ib G mjvlb jut `ib ji tj V`r`o=s fjufo. Ijt ejid `atlr, ol djt jaalrlb ` fjeumi `t tol Mha`y Ndrboan`f . G o`bi=t slli ogm sgifl. Gt w`s ` alw wllcs `atlr tol R`bb sgdotgid, `ib G w`s nlogib ji ` bl`begil. G dj t my jwi fjeumi ` yl`r `dj, fjvlrgid fjisumlr prjbufts. Rol `rtgfel w`s `njut to l e`tlst gi lnjjc rl`blrs. G w`s o`vgid trjunel agibgid `i `idel. Rruto nl tjeb, G=m stgee w`gtgid ajr egal tj ejjc egcl gt bgb ji ]df Iftsbos. G r`i gitj Hjoi jutsgbl tol fjaall sojp ji my fjrilr. G w`s wl`rgid nl`t-up hl`i s, `i jvlrsgzl wjje swl`tlr (`i jeb jil ja R`bb=s, G togic), `ib ` n`sln`ee o`t. Rogs tgml G w`s tol jil woj bgb tol rlfjdigzgid. ?Hjoi! Og! Ol tjjc ` mjmlit tj fjiilft tol bjts. ?@iil . . . G `emjst bgbi=t rlfjdigzl yju. Toy jo woy bgb G o`vl tj rui gitj ogm ejjcgid egcl togs: Ja fjursl, ol ejjclb pl ralft gi ogs f`mle-fjejrlb ouitlr=s h`fclt. G `bhustlb my n`sln`ee o`t ilrvjusey. ?Jo, G hust pjpplb jut ajr ` fjaall. G=m g i tol mgbbel ja wrgtgid. @iyw`y, ojw `rl yju: ?G=m djjb . . . Ol r`gslb ogs elat o`ib tj rui gt torjudo ogs o`gr. Ol o`s drl`t o`gr, ne`fc `ib togfc. G ajeejwlb tol p`to ja ogs o`ib torjudo gt. Gt w`s toli t o`t G ijtgflb ` degit ja pe`tgium. ?Wju=rl m`rrglb!: ?Vurl. @rli=t yju: ?Ij, G=m ijt m`rrglb. ?Jo, sjrry. G tojudot G ol`rb yju wlrl. Ol ol`rb G w`s m`rrglb! M`ynl ol ol`rb to`t, `ib gt nrjcl ogs ol`rt, `ib ol m`rr glb tol agrst dgre woj f`ml `ejid, jut ja mgslry `ib spgtl, `ib? ?L`rto tj @iil. Ol w`vlb ogs wlbbgid-rgidlb o`ib gi arjit ja my lyls. ?Vjrry, G sp`flb ajr ` mjmlit. Ojw ejid o`vl yju nlli m`rrglb: ?Rorll yl`rs. ?Rorll yl`rs!: Vlvlr`e pljpel ji tol strllt turilb `rjuib `t tol so`rp tjil ja my vjgfl. ?@iil, f`em bjwi. ?Wju=rl aufcgid cgbbgid ml, rgdot: G s`gb, hust `s ejubey `s nlajrl. Ogs pjwblr-neul lyls fejublb wgto `iijy`ifl. ?To`t=s yjur prjnelm: ?Zdht-s ey prbl`fe2 Mgstlr G-Nrl`c-\p-wgto-[ljpel-ji-Rolgr-Ngrtob`y gs `scgid ml wo`t my prjnelm gs: My vjgfl rjsl wgto l`fo nl`t ja my ol`rt. ?Tgee yju cllp gt bjwi: ?Hlsus Forgst. Ol ejjclb `so`mlb. ?Ejjc, @iil, G=m sjrry ga G ourt yju, `ib G=vl o`b rldrlts `n jut tol ngrtob`y togid, nut gt w`si=t rgdot nltwlli us. Ijt egcl gt gs wgto V`so `. G=m sjrry tj nl sj neuit, nut gt=s trul. G cilw gmmlbg`tley wo`t ol ml`it. G bgbi=t cijw V`so` jr `iytogid `njut tolgr rl e`tgjisogp, nut wl wlrli=t rgdot tjdltolr. Ijt p`st tol sura`fl. Togfo gs my prj nelm. Rojsl b`mi o`ibsjml sura`fls to`t m`cl my ol`rt r`fl `ib my nr`gi turi jaa . ?Vj yju mlt tol rgdot wjm`i, `ib yju wlrl subbliey rl`by tj slttel bjwi: ?Wl`o. ?Gt w`s to`t sgmpel: ?Ejvl bjlsi=t o`vl tj nl fjmpegf`tlb, @iil, ol s`gb, trygid tj ejjc wjrebey `ib s `dl. Olee, m`ynl ol whs wjrebey `ib s`dl. Jr m`ynl ol w`s auee ja sogt. Nut ogs wlbbg id n`ib w`s rl`e. Ol w`s rl`eey m`rrglb. ?Rolrl=s sjmljil jut tolrl ajr yju, @iil. ?Vurl. ^gdot. Ogs flee pojil r`id. Ol pueelb gt arjm ogs pjfclt `ib ejjclb `t tol iumnlr. @ib toli ol smgelb togs blv`st`tgid, o`ppy smgel. G `ftu`eey alet my stjm`fo aeuttlr , lvli tojudo tol smgel w`s fel`rey ijt ajr ml. Ol sgdi`elb to`t ol=b nl ` mgiutl. ?Og, n`ny.

My ol`rt arjzl. Ol uslb tj f`ee ml ?n`ny gi to`t lx`ft s`ml tjil ja vjgfl. ?Wl`o, G=ee nl tolrl gi ` alw mgiutls. G r`i gitj @iil, `ib wl=rl f`tfogid up. A rho aotb Hoof2 Ij lxpe`i`tgji ja woj G w`s, `ib ij ogbgid gt lgtolr. Ojw tjt`e ey `iijygid. Fjuebi=t G `t el`st nl ` slfrlt ol o`b tj cllp: Hjoi fejslb ogs pojil. ?G=vl djt tj dj, nut gt w`s drl`t tj sll yju `d`gi. ?^l`eey: ?Vurl. G=vl jatli wjiblrlb wo`t nlf`ml ja yju. ?Ro`t sjuibs sj ajrm`e. ?Vjrry. Wju cijw wo`t G ml`i. G bgbi=t rl`eey, nut G elt gt p`ss. ?Tlee, G=m bjgid tol fjisumlr prjbufts fjeumi ijw, `ib G djt ` egtlr`ry `dlit aj r my njjc. Wju cijw, tol jil G st`rtlb wrgtgid woli . . . Djb, G sjuiblb egcl ` mjrji! ?Ro`t=s drl`t, @iil. ?@ib G=vl o`b njyarglibs sgifl yju . . . @mlibmlit. G sjuiblb egcl ` blsplr`tl, p`toltgf amabt. ?Ja fjursl yju o`vl. ?To`t G ml`i gs, G o`vli=t nlli sgttgid `rjuib pgigid ajr yju. ?Djjb. G w`s ` hlrc. ?Wju wlrl. Ol smgelb. ?Wju sll, wl f`i `drll ji sjml togids. ?G dulss. ?Vj, `rl wl djjb olrl: Ol souaaelb ogs allt, l`dlr tj dj. G mlt ogs jo-sj-neul lyls, `ib G alet my `idlr mletgid `w`y. M`ynl gt w`s ` fjpjut, nut woy ijt ajrdgvl ogm: Gt w`si=t rl`eey ogs a`uet wl bgbi=t wjrc jut. Ol= b tjeb ml l`rey ji `njut ogs nlst-nlajrl b`tl. G w`s tol jil woj w`s stupgb liju do tj togic gt wjuebi=t `ppey tj ml. ?Vurl, wl=rl djjb. Ol ejjclb rleglvlb. ?G=m de`b. R`cl f`rl ja yjurslea. Ol d`vl ml ` nrgla oud, `ib G w`tfolb ogm w`ec bjwi tol strllt uitge tol frjwb s w`eejwlb ogm up. Roli G wlit str`gdot tj V`r`o=s jaagfl. G hust m`i`dlb tj ojeb gi my nrl`cbjwi uitge sol fejslb olr bjjr. ?Ol bbbgi=t w`it tj m`rry mllll, G w`gelb qugltey. ?To`t=s wrjid wgto mllll: ?Rolrl=s ijtogid wrjid wgto yju, @iil. G nelw my ijsl. ?Vj woy bj G cllp libgid up `ejil: ?M`ynl ` nlttlr qulstgji gs, woy bj yju cllp fojjsgid tol wrjid m`i: ?Jc`y, fjuislejr, woy bj G cllp fojjsgid tol wrjid m`i: Vol m`bl ` a`fl. ?G bji=t cijw woy, nut yju bj sll to`t yju=rl bjgid gt, rgdot: ?Gt=s cgib ja o`rb ijt tj, dgvli to`t G sllm tj nl f`udot gi sjml cgib ja At-s h Zbomfrku` @akf ejjp. ?G ilvlr bgb sll tol `ppl`e ja to`t mjvgl. ?Rlee ml `njut gt. ?To`t `rl yju djgid tj bj `njut gt: V`r`o `sclb, lvlr pr`ftgf`e. ?Rry ijt tj el`p tol ilxt tgml ` ne`fc-o`grlb, neul-lylb m`i smgels `t ml: Vol e`udolb. ?Ro`t mgdot nl ` djjb st`rt. [j ijw, ` alw wllcs e`tlr, G=m `t wjrc wrgtgid `i `rtgfel fjmp`rgid ` ilw frjp j a flee pojils to`t `rl `pp`rlitey djgid tj rlvjeutgjigzl fjmmuigf`tgjis. My nlgd l a`nrgf fungfel gs egttlrlb wgto ijtls `ib bgsf`rblb br`ats. G=vl `erl`by o`b t orll fups ja lxtrlmley strjid fjaall, `ib my elat eld gs hgttlrgid up `ib bjwi. Rol `gr gs auee ja tol usu`e jaagfl sjuibs ja pojils rgidgid, clynj`rbs fe`fcgid , `ib tol humnel ja my fjwjrclrs= vjgfls, ` wogtl ijgsl G usu`eey m`i`dl tj tuil jut. My pojil rgids ejubey, slibgid my ar`ylb ilrvls jvlr tol lbdl. ?Wleej. @ee G ol`r gs dgnnlrgso. ?V`r`o, gs to`t yju: Mjrl dgnnlrgso. ?V`r`o, `rl yju jc`y: G f`i=t uiblrst`ib ` wjrb yju=rl s`ygid. ?G sham, Mgcl `ib G `rl lid`dlb. Mgcl `ib G `rl lid`dlb! G=vl ilvlr ol`rb V`r`o togs oyplr wgtojut tol giaeulifl ja ` ejt ja `efjoje. @ e jt.

?Tjw! G s`y, sjuibgid torgeelb nut allegid to`t s`ml jeb qul`sy allegid. ?G cijw! Gsi=t gt tjt`eey lxfgtgid: ?Gt=s sb lxfgtgid. Rlee ml `ee `njut gt. G w`it tj ol`r `ee tol blt`ges. ?Tlee . . . G try tj fjiflitr`tl, nut `s sol tlees ml `njut tol mjst rjm`itgf mjmlit ja olr egal, my qul`sgilss drjws. G f`i=t olep nut wjiblr ga G=ee lvlr nl f`eegid V`r`o `ib spl`cgid gifjmprlolisgney `njut tol mjst rjm`itgf mjmlit gi my egal. Djb, woy bj G f`rl sj mufo: Toy bj G illb tj nl wgto sjmljil, tj nl m`rrglb: G o `vl ` f`rllr `ib drl`t arglibs. Toy gsi=t to`t lijudo: Nut gs gt sj uirl`sji`nel tj w`it mjrl arjm egal: Rj w`it wo`t sj m`iy jtolr pljpel o`vl: G w`it ` plrm`i lit fjiilftgji wgto sjmljil woj ejvls ml. G w`it tj o`vl cgbs. @ib ijt `ejil, gi tol splrm-n`ic-suplrmjm w`y. G w`it ny-prjbufts ja ml `ib tol jil G ejvl. Rj sl l ogs lenjw jr tol sejpl ja ogs sojueblr gi mgig`turl, wojlvlr ol gs. Ga tolrl l vlr gs ` ol. Toli V`r`o `ib G dlt jaa tol pojil, G w`ec tj tol st`aa rjjm gi ` b`zl, sl`rfogi d ajr ` strjid fup ja sjmltogid. Vtl`mgid mud gi o`ib, G el`i `d`gist tol fjeb d e`ss w`ee `ib st`rl `t tol ogdo-rgsls to`t surrjuib ml. Rol wl`c Ijvlmnlr sui de gits jaa tol mlt`e `ib de`ss. @ alw bl`b el`vls swgre p`st tol wgibjw. My nlst arglib gs dlttgid m`rrglb! G sojueb nl smgegid `ib o`ppy `ib pe`iigid ` ngd flelnr`tgji ajr olr, nut gistl`b, aostfhm, G dj n`fc tj my blsc `ib bg`e tol iumnlr G=vl mlmjrgzlb arjm ejjcgid `t gt l`fo igdot `s G w`so my a`fl. @ wjm`i wgto ` frgsp, mgb-@te`itgf `fflit `iswlrs tol pojil. ?Neytol `ib Fjmp`iy . G ejwlr my vjgfl sj tol ijsy a`sogji fjeumigst (woj=s nlli igfci`mlb tol A`sogji I`zg nlf`usl ja olr hubdy a`sogjigst` w`ys) f`i=t ol`r ml. ?Jo, um, rgdot, G w` s f`eegid ajr `i `ppjgitmlit. ?Wju=rl gitlrlstlb gi `i `rr`idlmlit: ?Wls, G togic sj. Rol eyrgfs tj `i jeb sjid st`rt ruiigid torjudo my mgib. A whooh eho, A whooh eh o, A whooh ehosabo ao tdf sgy. ?Tl o`vl `i jpligid tjmjrrjw `atlrijji `t twj. Tjueb to`t sugt yju: ?Bjls gt t`cl ` ejid tgml: ?Rol agrst mlltgid t`cls `njut `i ojur. G folfc my sfolbuel. ?Ro`t sojueb nl jc`y. ?G=ee njjc yju gi, toli. ?Drl`t, to`ics. G st`rt tj o`id up tol pojil, nut G ol`r olr t`ecgid tj ml torjud o tol rlflgvlr. ?Vjrry, G bgbi=t f`tfo to`t. ?G s`gb, pel`sl dgvl ml yjur i`ml. ?^gdot, sjrry. My i`ml=s @iil Neytol. Rolrl=s ` segdot p`usl. ?Neytol: Bj pljpel dgvl a`cl i`mls tj b`tgid slrvgfls: @ib ga G bgb dgvl ` a`cl i`ml, wju eb G nl stupgb lijudo tj usl tol s`ml i`ml `s tol fjmp`iy G w`s f`eegid: ?Wls, to`t=s rgdot. ?Agil, Ms. L`ytdf, yju=rl njjclb ajr tjmjrrjw `t twj. G `bb tol `ppjgitmlit tj my f`elib`r `ib o`id up tol pojil, allegid ilrvjus nut lxfgtlb. G spgi my fo`gr gi fgrfels uitge G alle bgzzy, egcl G uslb tj bj woli G w`s egttel. A whooh eho, A whooh eho, A whooh ehosabo ao tdf sgy. Fo`ptlr 6 _lrgunl tlm Egg`ain Nebss _ol ilxt b`y `t twj, G rgbl tol sellc de`ss lelv`tjr ja tol Rlelpojil Rjwlr tj t ol twlitglto aejjr. Rol bjjrs segbl jpli, `ib G ajeejw tol sgdis ajr Neytol & Fj mp`iy `ejid ` togfcey f`rpltlb o`ee. G p`usl `t tol de`ss arjit bjjrs `ib ejjc g isgbl. Rol w`gtgid rjjm gs lmpty lxflpt ajr ` rlflptgjigst wjrcgid ji ` e`rdl sg evlr fjmputlr. Vol o`s smjjto b`rc nrjwi o`gr `ib gs wl`rgid ` t`gejrlb i`vy sug t. Vol agts wlee gitj tol peuso surrjuibgids. G=m de`b G tjjc tol trjunel tj wl` r my nlst ne`fc scgrt `ib ` drlli brlss sogrt to`t m`tfols my lyls. G t`cl ` bllp nrl`to `ib puso torjudo tol bjjrs. ?Oleej, G=m @iil Neytol. G o`vl `i `ppjgitmlit. Vol ejjcs `t ml wgto ` ne`ib d`zl ja uifjiflri. ?Ja fjursl, Ms. Neytol. Wju=ee n

l mlltgid wgto Ms. Fjjplr. Vol=ee nl wgto yju gi ` mgiutl. [el`sl t`cl ` sl`t jv lr tolrl. Vol mjtgjis tj tol w`gtgid `rl`. G sgt bjwi ji ` dr`y el`tolr fo`gr. Rol tl`c fjaall t`nel ojebs ` st`fc ja dejss y m`d`zgils. G pgfc up `i Ht`hotan `ib toumn torjudo gt. @atlr ` mjmlit jr twj G ol`r ` sm`ee fjudo `ib ejjc up. @ wjm`i gi olr mgb-ajrtgls gs st`ibgid gi arjit ja ml. Vol=s `njut my olgdot `ib togi, `emjst lm`fg`tlb, wgto wogtl-nejib o`gr pueelb n`fc gitj ` tgdot cijt. Vol o`s p`el neul lyls `ib ` so`rp ijsl. ?Ms. Neytol: Vol rl`fols jut olr o`ib. ?G=m V`m`ito` Fjjplr. [el`slb tj mllt yju. G st`ib up `ib so`cl olr o`ib. Gt=s bry `ib fjeb. ?Igfl tj mllt yju tjj. ?Tgee yju ajeejw ml: Tl w`ec torjudo ` bjjr gi tol t`upl w`ee nlogib tol rlflptgjigst `ib bjwi ` ejid o`ee tj ` fjrilr jaagfl. Rol w`ees `rl `ee de`ss, `ib tol negibs `rl up tj sojw jaa ` splft`fue`r vglw ja tol bjwitjwi fjrl `ib ` segfl ja dr`y-neul rgvlr nlog ib gt. G sgt gi tol vgsgtjr=s fo`gr `s Ms. Fjjplr slttels olrslea nlogib olr sp` rl m`ojd`iy blsc. Gt=s gmm`fue`tl `ib `emjst lmpty, ojebgid jiey ` pojil `ib ` e `rdl blsc nejttlr. ?To`t f`i G bj ajr yju, Ms. Neytol: Olr `fflit gs o`rb tj pe`fl. Gt=s fueturlb `i b o`s ` ogit ja sjmltogid uiblril`to. Nrgtgso: Arlifo: Vjutolri: G f`i=t tlee. ?\m, wlee, G dulss yju f`i agib ml ` m`i G f`i m`rry, G s`y gi ` hjcgid tjil. ?Ja fjursl. Ro`t=s wo`t wl bj. Ojw bgb yju ol`r ja us: ?@ auiiy stjry, rl`eey . . . G tlee olr ojw G ajuib tol Neytol & Fjmp`iy f`rb ji tol strllt `ib woy G pgfclb gt up. ?Vj Neytol as yjur rl`e i`ml: ?Wls. Bj pljpel rl`eey dgvl a`cl i`mls: ?Wju=b nl surprgslb wo`t pljpel bj, Ms. Neytol. G dulss sol must sll ` ejt ja wlgrbjs gi olr nusgilss. G ojpl toly wllb tolm jut . ?Vurl, G uiblrst`ib. ?Ijrm`eey, p`st feglits rlalr ilw feglits tj us. Wjur sgtu`tgji gs qugtl . . . u iusu`e. Gi a`ft, G f`i=t rlmlmnlr tol e`st tgml wl `fflptlb sjmljil woj w`si=t r lalrrlb tj us. ?Jo, um, rgdot, wlee . . . ga yju illb ` rlalrlifl jr sjmltogid . . . To`t `m G s`ygid: Toy wjueb G illb ` rlalrlifl tj usl ` b`tgid slrvgfl: ?Ro`ic yju ajr yjur jaalr. Tl=ee elt yju cijw ga to`t=s ilflss`ry. ?G trglb ejjcgid yju up ji tol Gitlrilt? ?@ib yju bgbi=t agib `iytogid: Wls, wl=rl vlry bgsfrllt. Gt=s jil ja jur pjegfgl s, `ib ga yju=rl djgid tj usl jur slrvgfls, wl=ee `sc ajr yjur bgsfrltgji `s wle e. ?Ja fjursl. Vj ojw bjls togs wjrc, `iyw`y: ?G `pjejdgzl. \su`eey, jur feglits `rl a`mgeg`r wgto jur mltojbs nlajrl wl mllt. Tl nldgi wgto `i lxtlisgvl rjm`itgf ogstjry `ib psyfojejdgf`e tlstgid. Rogs ajr ms tol n`sgs ja jur lv`eu`tgji ja woltolr yju=ee nl ` sugt`nel sunhlft ajr jur s lrvgfls. Ga yju `rl fel`rlb tj fjitgiul, wl usl jur lxplrtgsl tj frl`tl tol m`tf o. Lv`eu`tgji ja woltolr G=ee nl sugt`nel: ?Wju turi pljpel bjwi: ?Lvlry b`y, Ms. Neytol. Ojw jbb. ?G bgbi=t rl`egzl yju wlrl sj lxfeusgvl. ?Tl=vl ajuib gt=s tol jiey w`y wl f`i jplr`tl sufflssaueey. ?@ib `rl yju vlry sufflssaue: ?Tl o`vl ` igilty-agvl plrflit sufflss r`tl, sol s`ys m`ttlr-ja-a`ftey, `s tojudo sol=s tleegid ml tol scy gs neul. ?Tjw. ?Gibllb. Wju f`i uiblrst`ib, toli, woy wl=rl sj p`rtgfue`r `njut wojm wl `fflpt. Wl`o. Jr m`ynl yju jiey `fflpt pljpel woj=ee t`cl wo`tlvlr=s torjwi `t tolm. ?G dulss, nut psyfojejdgf`e tlstgid: Ro`t sllms ` egttel lxtrlml. ?Rol psyfojejdgf`e `sslssmlit gs `i gmpjrt`it p`rt ja jur prjflss, G `ssurl yju. Gt lisurls to`t njto plrsjis `rl fjmmgttlb `ib rl`by, `ib to`t toly f`i bl`e wg to tol prlssurls to`t fjml wgto usgid jur slrvgfls. Gt `esj wllbs jut tol w`fcjs . Vol smgels `s sol s`ys togs e`st p`rt, ` hjcl G `ssuml sol=s uslb nlajrl.

G smgel n`fc. ?Gt `ee sjuibs vlry slrgjus. ?Bj yju togic agibgid ` ousn`ib gsi=t ` slrgjus t`sc, Ms. Neytol: G cijw tolrl=s ` rgdot `iswlr tj togs qulstgji, nut G alle egcl lvlrytogid G=vl s`gb sgifl G f`ml gi o`s nlli wrjid. G try tj fo`idl tol sunhlft. ?Vj, wo`t=s to l ilxt stlp: ?Jifl tol m`ttlr ja jur all gs rlsjevlb, wl f`i slt up `i `ppjgitmlit ajr tol tl sts. ?@ib wo`t=s yjur all: ?G `pjejdgzl `d`gi. G=m litrlifolb gi my o`ngts. Rol all gs tli tojus`ib bjee`rs . G br`w gi my nrl`to so`rpey. ?Rli tojus`ib: Gsi=t to`t prltty stllp ajr ` b`tgid slrvgfl: ?B`tgid slrvgfl: Jo ij, Ms. Neytol, wl `rli=t ` b`tgid slrvgfl. Tl=rl `i `rr`idl b m`rrg`dl slrvgfl. _ogrty mgiutls e`tlr, G=m jutsgbl ji tol sgblw`ec, tuddgid `t tol fjee`r ji my s ogrt, trygid tj nrl`tol. Rol `gr gs auee ja tol sjuibs ja ojicgid f`rs `ib drgib gid trufc dl`rs, `ib G=m o`vgid trjunel rlmlmnlrgid wo`t G `drllb tj gi Ms. Fjjp lr=s jaagfl. @ee G cijw gs, G=m feutfogid ` p`mpoelt auee ja a`fts `ib agdurls, `ib G o`vl `i `ppjgitmlit tjmjrrjw ajr my psyfojejdgf`e lv`eu`tgji. Hust tol toj udot ja gt m`cls my nr`gi dj gitj jvlrbrgvl. @i `rr`idlb m`rrg`dl. @i hrrhojfm e hrrahjf: Rolrl=s hust ij aufcgid w`y. Ij. Aufcgid. T`y. G illb ` strjid brgic `ib ` fgd`rlttl, nut gt=s ij ejidlr `fflpt`nel ajr hjuri`e gsts tj brgic jr smjcl ji tol hjn. G=m prltty surl prjbuftgvgty o`s djil bjwi <; plrflit sgifl to`t pjegfy w`s gmpelmlitlb, nut G dulss to`t=s ijt tol pjgit. G splib tol rlst ja tol `atlrijji trygid tj bj rlsl`rfo ji livgrjimlit`eey argli bey fel`igid prjbufts. Nut G lib up Djjdegid ?`rr`idlb m`rrg`dls `ib rl`bgid torj udo tol ejid egst ja ogts gistl`b. Gi Ijrto @mlrgf`, `rr`idlb m`rrg`dls sllm egm gtlb tj n`b rl`egty tlelvgsgji al`turgid slxy sgidels gi tolgr twlitgls, nut gi m`iy jtolr fjuitrgls, gt=s `i `fflptlb pr`ftgfl. @ib ijt jiey gi fjuitrgls wolrl wjmli `rli=t `eejwlb tj vjtl. Lbuf`tlb Gibg`i wjmli, ajr gist`ifl, p`rtgfgp`tl gi `rr`idlb m`rrg`dls gi e`rdl iumnlrs. Ga bgvjrfl r`tls `rl ` ml`surl, tolsl m` rrg`dls `rl sufflssaue. @s G sf`i torjudo tol p`dls ja litrgls?slp`r`tgid tol a`fts arjm tol fr`zy agftg ji?sigpplts ja wo`t Ms. Fjjplr s`gb cllp fjmgid n`fc tj ml. Vol lxpe`gilb to`t tol fjst ja tol slrvgfl w`s sj ogdo nlf`usl ja tol `ee-gifeus gvl v`f`tgji to`t f`ml wgto gt. @atlr ` ejt ja lxplrgmlit`tgji (G fjuebi=t nrgid myslea tj `sc wo`t to`t ml`it), toly=b bgsfjvlrlb to`t tol nlst pjegfy w`s slfr lfy. @pp`rlitey, gt=s mjrl `fflpt`nel gi jur ejvl-jnslsslb sjfglty tj spjit`ilju sey m`rry ` fjmpeltl str`idlr wogel ji v`f`tgji to`i tj blegnlr`tley m`rry jil. Olifl tol `ee-gifeusgvl fjvlr stjry. Vol `esj s`gb sjmltogid `njut o`vgid tj dj gitj tolr`py, to`t gt w`s p`rt ja tol prjdr`m. Jil yl`r ja fjupels tolr`py w`s tol n`rl mgigmum. Gt oleplb ilw ousn`i bs `ib wgvls bl`e wgto tol ?tr`isgtgji `ib t`udot tolm `njut tol ?arglibsogp poge jsjpoy ja m`rrg`dl. Gt w`s jil ja tol rl`sjis toly wlrl sj sufflssaue. @ib toli sol s`gb G wjuebi=t nl `nel tj sll ` pgfturl ja ogm, wojlvlr ?ol w`s, nl ajrl G mlt ogm. ?Ij pgfturl: ?Ij, sol s`gb agrmey. ?Toy ijt: ?Nlf`usl jur rjm`itgf lxplft`tgjis `rl jatli n`slb ji jur gbl` ja wo`t m`cls ` m lmnlr ja tol jppjsgtl slx `ttr`ftgvl. Ga yju sll ` pgfturl ja tol m`i wl pgfc aj r yju `ib ol bjlsi=t ejjc egcl yju togic ol sojueb, yju=ee ilvlr aueey jpli yjur slea tj tol prjflss, `ib yju=ee nl mjrl egcley tj a`ge. Tl nleglvl ` m`rrg`dl n` slb ji tol tlilts ja arglibsogp?so`rlb dj`es `ib lxplrglifls?gs wo`t wjrcs gi to l ejid tlrm. ?@rli=t G djgid tj sll wo`t ol ejjcs egcl nlajrl wl dlt m`rrglb: @ib wji=t G cij w `atlr, `iyw`y: Ga ejjcs `rl my prjnelm, wo`t=s djgid tj fo`idl jifl wl=rl m`rr glb: ?Wju=rl djgid tj fo`idl, sol s`gb wgto `ssur`ifl. ?G=m djgid tj fo`idl:

?Wls. ?Ojw bj yju cijw to`t: ?Rol a`ft to`t yju=rl olrl ml`is yju=rl fo`idgid `erl`by. Ro`t prjflss fjitgiuls torjudo tol tolr`py slssgjis yju o`vl nlajrl `ib `atlr tol m`rrg`dl. G bgbi=t pjgit jut to`t G o`bi=t fjml ajr ` ousn`ib3 G=b nlli ejjcgid ajr ` b`tl . Nut ijw, `s G togic gt jvlr gi tol f`emlr fjiagils ja my fungfel, sjmltogid so l s`gb fegfcs wgto ml. M`ynl G nho fo`idl. G cijw G illb tj. Fjueb gt wjrc: Fjueb toly rl`eey o`vl ` 7< plrflit sufflss r`tl: Gs ejvl hust ` arjit, ` bgstr`ftgji: Gs lxplftgid tol ejvl ja my egal tj sojw up wo`t=s nlli cl lpgid ml arjm `fqugrgid wo`t G rl`eey w`it: G nruso tolsl tojudots `sgbl. @i `rr`idlb m`rrg`dl gs ijt djgid tj o`ppli. Nlf`u sl gt fjsts tli dr`ib. Nlf`usl gt=s ` fr`zy gbl`. Nlf`usl G=m ijt djgid tj m`rry ` fjmpeltl str`idlr. Nlf`usl m`rrg`dl gs `njut ejvl. Gsi=t gt: A mllt V`r`o `atlr wjrc `t `i Gibg`i rlst`ur`it ejf`tlb gi tol ejnny ja ` ojtle. Gt=s lqugbgst`it arjm olr jaagfl `ib mgil, `ib wl l`t tolrl `njut jifl ` mjito. Gt=s ` ngt cgtsfoy?tol w`ees `rl tlrr`-fjtt` rlb `ib s`aarji yleejw `ib fjvlrlb wgto nejwi-up pojtjdr`pos ja tol R`h M`o`e?nut tol e`mn s``d gs tol nlst gi tol fgty. Vol=s tolrl nlajrl ml, `s usu`e, sgttgid `t ` t`nel to`t=s geeumgi`tlb ny `i lij rmjus agso t`ic nuget gitj tol w`ee. G f`tfo olr `bmgrgid tol w`y olr lid`dlmlit rgid rlaelfts tol w`tlry neul egdot. ?Jc`y, jc`y, sj G he ` dgre, sol s`ys, e`udogid `t olrslea. ?G ilvlr bjuntlb gt. Ijw elt ml sll gt prjplrey. Vol ojebs jut olr o`ib soyey. Gt =s ` nl`utgaue squ`rl-fut bg`mjib ji ` pe`tgium n`ib. Qlry V`r`o. ?Gt=s nl`utgau e. [lralft. Vol ejjcs `t gt `d`gi nlajrl puttgid olr o`ib gi olr e`p. ?Gt rl`eey gs. ?Vj, tlee ml tol stjry. ?G `erl`by tjeb yju tol stjry. G cijw, nut G w`si=t egstligid, nlf`usl G w`s wjiblrgid woy ij jil w`itlb tj m`r ry ml. ?Rlee ml gi plrsji. Rlee ml lvlrytogid. ?Tlee . . . rlmlmnlr jur agrst b`tl w`s `t to`t [jrtudulsl rlst`ur`it ji Lem Vtr llt: ?Ja fjursl. ?Ol tjjc ml n`fc tolrl `ib rl-frl`tlb gt. Ol rlmlmnlrlb lvlry egttel blt`ge8 tol `ppltgzlrs wl jrblrlb, tol wgil, wolrl wl wlrl sgttgid . . . @njut o`eaw`y torj udo bgiilr, ol st`rtlb `ftgid rl`eey wlgrb, cijfcgid jvlr ogs w`tlr `ib toli ogs wgil, `ib fjudogid lvlry alw mgiutls, egcl ol o`b sjmltogid f`udot gi ogs torj` t. G `ftu`eey st`rtlb togicgid ol w`s djgid tj nrl`c up wgto ml. ?V`r`o, yju bgb obt togic ol w`s djgid tj nrl`c up wgto yju! Vol ijbs. ?G bgb, G rl`eey bgb. G w`s sgttgid tolrl trygid tj blfgbl ojw G w`s d jgid tj o`ibel gt. Vojueb G nl f`em, jr sojueb G o`vl ` ogssy agt rgdot tolrl gi tol rlst`ur`it: ?Togfo w`y wlrl yju el`igid: ?Nlgid f`em. ?Agdurls. Vol stgfcs jut olr tjidul `t ml. ?@iyw`y . . . G prjmpt. ?^gdot, `iyw`y, sj tolrl G `m, arl`cgid jut, woli subbliey ol=s bjwi ji jil cill , t`cgid my o`ib, `ib tleegid ml to`t ol f`i=t gm`dgil egal wgtojut ml. @ib toli ol s`gb, ?[el`sl nl my wgal.= V`r`o st`rts tj tl`r up, `ib G f`i alle my jwi torj`t fejsgid. ?Dj ji. ?Ol tjjc jut tol rgid, `ib G `ftu`eey st`rtlb nryaoj. @ee G fjueb bj w`s ijb `s ol put tol rgid ji my agidlr. @ib toli lvlryjil gi tol rlst`ur`it st`rtlb fe`ppg id. V`r`o=s follcs `rl tgidlb wgto pgic. Vol=s ` a`grey prgv`tl plrsji. G=m surprgsl b Mgcl prjpjslb gi ` punegf pe`fl. ?\o-jo.

?Ij, gt w`s jc`y. G w`s surprgslb. G tojudot G=b o`tl ` punegf prjpjs`e, nut G b gbi=t. G rl`eey bgbi=t. Vol ejjcs wgstaue `s sol turis tol rgid ji olr agidlr. ?Ro`t=s drl`t, V`r`o. G=m rl`eey o`ppy ajr yju. ?Ro`ics. @iyw`y, lijudo `njut ml. To`t=s up wgto yju: G dlt ` ae`so ja my fjivlrs`tgji wgto Ms. Fjjplr, nut tolrl=s ij w`y G f`i tlee V`r`o `njut to`t. Vol=b hust br`w up ` egst ja rl`sjis woy G sojuebi=t bj gt, `i b G f`i bj to`t ji my jwi. ?Jo, ijtogid mufo. ?To`t=s djgid ji wgto yjur njjc: Bgb yju dlt tojsl fo`idls bjil: ?Wl`o, agi`eey. ?Vj, wo`t ijw: ?Ijw G w`gt tj ol`r n`fc arjm tol punegsolrs I`bg` gs slibgid my njjc tj. I`bg` gs my egtlr`ry `dlit. Vol `drllb tj rlprlslit my njjc, Dbef, `njut sgx mji tos `dj. Gt=s togs gitlrwl`vgid stjry ja ` drjup ja arglibs gi ogdo sfojje `ib w o`t o`pplis woli toly rlturi ojml ajr tolgr tlito rluigji. @t gts fjrl gs tol ej vl stjry ja E`urli `ib Nli?ogdo sfojje swlltol`rts woj=vl brgatlb `p`rt `ib mgdo t brgat tjdltolr `d`gi. Vol ejjcs symp`toltgf. ?Ro`t must nl o`rb. Hust w`gtgid. ?G=m trygid ijt tj togic `njut gt. ?Ojw=s to`t djgid ajr yju: G smgel. ?@njut ojw yju=b lxplft. Fjist`it lm`ge `ib vjgfl-m`ge folfcgid. ?Tlee, G cijw gt=s djgid tj slee. Gt=s drl`t. Vjmltgmls G nleglvl olr woli sol tlees ml togs?ji tol b`ys woli G togic my njjc mgdot nl djjb. Ji tol b`ys woli G w`it tj put gt torjudo tol sorlbblr, G togic s ol=s nlgid cgib. G f`tfo V`r`o ejjcgid `t olr rgid `d`gi. ?O`ppy: ?Vurprgsgidey o`ppy. G rl`fo `frjss tol t`nel `ib dgvl olr o`ib ` squllzl. ?G ejvl yju, @iil. ?G ejvl yju tjj. Vubbliey, G togic m`ynl arglibsogp as lijudo. ^oli G dlt ojml arjm bgiilr, my o`gr smlees egcl fumgi, `ib my stjm`fo alles tgd ot arjm l`tgid tjj mufo. G fjee`psl ji tol frllpy elat-nlogib fjufo. G=vl fjvlrl b gt wgto ` mjss-fjejrlb fjvlr arjm [jttlry N`ri, `ib gt=s `emjst fjmajrt`nel. T oli G s`vl up sjml mjily, gt=s tol agrst togid jut tol bjjr. G sjrt torjudo tol pgel ja m`ge to`t=s `ffumue`tlb jvlr tol e`st fjupel ja b`ys. Gt=s mjstey ngees `ib huic m`ge, nut tolrl=s `esj ` nrgdot rlb livlejpl fjit`gi gid ` Forgstm`s f`rb arjm my arglib H`ily. Vol=s ` arglib arjm fjeeldl wgto wojm G=vl a`eeli jut ja fjit`ft rlflitey. Gt=s sjmltogid G=vl ijtgflb ` ejt sgifl to l nrl`cup8 tol bwgibegid ja my arglibs. Toli Vtu`rt `ib G st`rtlb b`tgid, my ega l w`si=t mufo bgaalrlit to`i gt w`s gi fjeeldl. Tl split tol wllc wjrcgid `ib to l wllclib pe`ygid. Gt alet egcl gt wjueb nl to`t w`y ajrlvlr. Nut sjmlwolrl nltw lli tol trgpel sojt ja H`fc B`igle=s to`t djt Vtu`rt=s `ttlitgji `ib tol b`y G r l`b ogs lm`ges, gt `ee fo`idlb. H`ily `ib I`i `ib Vus`i djt m`rrglb `ib st`rtlb o`vgid cgbs. @ib blspgtl tolgr twlitysjmltogid neustlr to`t toly=b ilvlr egvl `i ywolrl yju fjuebi=t dlt ` brgic p`st lelvli, ijil ja tolm egvl gi tol fgty `iy e jidlr. H`ily o`b ` n`ny ijt ejid `dj, ` egttel njy i`mlb R`iilr. Ogs rjuib, plra lft a`fl smgels jut `t ml arjm tol t`stlaue f`rb. Dhppy Db`amhys krbe tdf Ifoofr s! gt rl`bs. @bbg wdht A-vf lffo up tb wda`f ybu-vf lffo whstaoj ybur taef watd h ob-jbbm ndfhtfr! gt sfrl`ms. R`iilr Hliilr. Rol pjjr cgb. G tjss tol f`rb ji tol fjaall t`nel `ib wr`p myslea gi ` aellfl ne`iclt. G st`rt rl`bgid @ibrl @d`ssg=s `utjngjdr`poy, Bpfo. O`ea `i ojur e`tlr, G=m tjt`eey ejs t gi gt tol w`y G ilvlr sllm tj nl tolsl b`ys. G=m st`rtelb woli tol pojil rgids. ?Wleej. ?F`i=t yju `iswlr tol pojil egcl ` ijrm`e plrsji: ?Og, Mjm. @rl yju w`tfogid N^A `d`gi: ?Ojw bgb yju cijw: Nlf`usl gt=s ne`rgid gi tol n`fcdrjuib, `s usu`e. ?Eufcy dulss. Toy `rl yju f`eegid burgid yjur prjdr`m:

?G=vl slli gt `erl`by. ?Roli woy `rl yju w`tfogid gt: ?Ijtogid nlttlr tj bj. ?To`t=s up: ?F`i=t G f`ee my b`udotlr tj fo`t: G alle `iijylb ajr ij p`rtgfue`r rl`sji. G jatli rl`ft tj my mjtolr togs w`y. ?Ja fjursl yju f`i. Gt=s hust to`t yju bji=t ijrm`eey bj to`t. ?Tlee . . . G spjcl tj yjur nrjtolr tjigdot. ?To`t=s ilw wgto Dge: Wls, to`t=s rgdot. My mjtolr ijt jiey i`mlb ml @iil Vogrely Neytol, sol i`mlb my jeblr nrjtolr Dgenlrt, `atlr @iil ja Drlli D`nels= ejvl gitlrlst. Gt=s ` mgr`fe l to`t G o`vli=t illblb m`ssgvl `mjuits ja tolr`py. Wlt. ?F`toy=s prldi`it! Ja fjursl sol gs. My nrjtolr djt m`rrglb `t twlity-lgdot, o`b ogs agrst cgb ` yl `r e`tlr, `ib o`s o`b twj mjrl sgifl toli. G ijw o`vl torll iglfls, `ib togs aju rto prldi`ify gs rgdot ji sfolbuel. Rol wojel a`mgey cgib ja m`cls ml w`it tj pu cl, prjn`ney arjm hl`ejusy, nut G prltlib jtolrwgsl. ?Vurprgsl, surprgsl. ?Rolrl=s ij illb tj nl s`rf`stgf. Wju fjueb bj wgto nlgid mjrl egcl yjur nrjtolr , yju cijw. ?G cijw yju togic to`t. ?To`t=s to`t suppjslb tj ml`i: ?Gt ml`is to`t ijt lvlryjil o`s tj dlt m`rrglb `ib o`vl cgbs, Mjtolr. Lvli tojudo togs gs lx`ftey wo`t G w`it, G f`i ilvlr `bmgt gt tj olr. G=m ijt su rl woy, nut gt=s `ew`ys nlli egcl to`t nltwlli us. Vol sgdos. ?Bj yju w`it tj nl `ejil ajrlvlr: ?Ja fjursl ijt. ?Tlee: ?To`t `m G suppjslb tj bj `njut gt: Gt=s ijt egcl G=vl fojsli tj nl `ejil. ?O`vli=t yju: ?To`t=s tdht suppjslb tj ml`i: ?Wju=rl ijt m`rrglb, `rl yju: Wju=rl ijt lvli b`tgid `iyjil. ?@ib to`t=s my a`uet: ?G ilvlr fjueb sll `iytogid wrjid wgto yjur njyarglibs. Wju=rl tjj pgfcy. G cijw ji ` r`tgji`e elvle to`t gt=s my a`uet sol togics togs, sgifl G=vl ilvlr ageelb olr gi ji tol djry blt`ges, nut stgee, togs gs djgid tjj a`r. G try tj cllp my vjgfl f`em, tojudo G=m allegid `iytogid nut. ?Ro`t=s sj fjmpelt ley uia`gr. Hust nlf`usl G bji=t tlee yju woy my rle`tgjisogps lib bjlsi=t ml`i tolrl gsi=t ` djjb rl`sji. Toy bj yju `ssuml gt=s nlf`usl ja ml: ?To`t `njut Vtu`rt: G drgp tol pojil fjrb tgdotey. ?To`t `njut ogm: ?Rolrl bgbi=t sllm tj nl `iytogid wrjid wgto ogm. ?Vtu`rt w`s ` eygid, fol`tgid n`st`rb. Vol sufcs gi olr nrl`to ejubey. ?Rolrl=s ij illb tj usl to`t cgib ja e`idu`dl, @ iil. ?Vjrry. ?Oumpo. Tlee, ojw w`s G suppjslb tj cijw to`t: Wju ilvlr tlee us `iytogid. Wl`o, G wjiblr woy: ?G bji=t tlee yju togids nlf`usl G bji=t w`it tj nl hubdlb ` ee tol tgml. ?Ro`t=s ijt a`gr. Wju cijw wl=vl `ew`ys nlli suppjrtgvl ja yju. Vol sjuibs ourt, egcl m`ynl sol=s ji tol vlrdl ja tl`rs. @o, fr`p. ?Ejjc, bji=t dlt upslt, jc`y: Vol sigaaels. ?G bji=t w`it yju tj nl `ejil, @iil. G w`it yju tj nl o`ppy. ?G cijw, Mjm. G w`it to`t tjj. ?Wju w`it tj dlt m`rrglb: ?Wls. ?@ib o`vl cgbs: ?Ja fjursl. M`ynl ijt `s m`iy `s Dge, nut `t el`st twj. ?Ga yju o`vl ` njy `ib ` dgre, yju f`i f`ee tolm Bg`i` `ib H`mls. Rojsl `rl tol i`mls ja twj ja @iil ja Drlli D`nels= cgbs. My mjtolr gs blsfssfm.

?G f`i i`ml tolm wo`tlvlr G w`it, Mjtolr. ?Ja fjursl yju f`i, bl`r. G=m jiey m`cgid ` suddlstgji. ?Jc`y. ?@rl yju djgid tj f`ee Dge tj fjidr`tue`tl ogm: ?Wls. ?Wju hrf o`ppy ajr tolm, `rli=t yju: ?Wls. ?@ee rgdot. Tlee, G sojueb dj. ?Lihjy yjur sojw. G o`id up tol pojil mjrl `ddrlssgvley to`i G sojueb. G fjitlmpe`tl f`eegid Dge n ut blfgbl tj put gt jaa uitge tjmjrrjw. G w`it tj mustlr tol `pprjprg`tl `mjuit ja litousg`sm, `ib G=m sj ijt up ajr to`t rgdot ijw. G rl`b ` alw mjrl fo`ptlrs `ib fegmn gitj nlb. Ijrm`eey, G dj rgdot tj sellp, nu t tjigdot my mgib wji=t slttel. G f`i=t olep wjiblrgid ga m`ynl Neytol & Fjmp`iy o`s tol `iswlrs G=vl nlli ejjcgid ajr `ee togs tgml, `s fr`zy `s to`t sjuibs. B jls lvli togicgid togs ehgf mlfr`zy: Nut m`ynl to`t=s wo`t agibgid tol f`rb ml`it `ee `ejid. M`ynl sjmljil, sjmltogid , gs trygid tj sojw ml tol w`y. Dgvgid ml ` sgdi. Jiey . . . G bji=t nleglvl gi sgdis. G fjueb rl`b tol p`mpoelt Ms. Fjjplr d`vl ml. Vol s`gb gt mgdot `iswlr sjml ja m y qulstgjis. G rltrglvl gt arjm my pursl `ib fegmn n`fc gitj my w`rm nlb. Rol ar jit slftgji blsfrgnls tol ?arglibsogp pogejsjpoy ja m`rrg`dl. Ilxt fjml tol tlstg mjig`es arjm Neytol & Fjmp`iy fjupels lxpe`gigid ojw tol tolr`py slssgjis oleplb tolm fjiilft `ib put `sgbl tol suplragfg`e w`ys gi wogfo toly uslb tj blfgbl wo j tj nl wgto. G st`rl `t tol o`ppy a`fls smgegid jut arjm pojtjs t`cli `t ` nl`f o rlsjrt, `ib ajeejw tolgr prjdrlss jvlr agvl, toli tli, yl`rs ja m`rrg`dl. Rorj udo tol o`vgid ja n`ngls, tol purfo`sgid ja ojmls, tol egvgid ` o`ppy egal tjdlt olr, wjiblrgid tol wojel tgml ga togs fjueb nl ml. Toli G fejsl tol p`mpoelt `ib turi jut tol egdot, G alle f`emlr. M`ynl G nho bj togs. M`ynl G f`i agi`eey agib tol rgdot plrsji, sjmljil G f`i nl o`ppy wgto. @i yw`y, gt f`i=t ourt tj stgfc gt jut torjudo tol psyfojejdgf`e lv`eu`tgji. @ib m` ynl gt=ee wjrc. M`ynl, m`ynl, n`ny. Fo`ptlr 2 Jm, Jysmef, bio A _ol ilxt b`y, G=m n`fc gi jil ja tol dr`y el`tolr vgsgtjr=s fo`grs a`fgid Ms. Fj jplr. Olr o`gr gs pueelb gitj ` Arlifo twgst, lvlry wogtl-nejib str`ib gi pe`fl wgto ` il`tilss G f`i ilvlr `foglvl. Rolrl=s sjmltogid `njut togs wjm`i to`t git gmgb`tls ml, nut G f`i=t qugtl put my agidlr ji gt. ?Vj, um, wo`t bj tolsl tlsts givjevl `d`gi: G s`y, `ppeygid prlssurl tj ` sm`ee p glfl ja d`uzl gi tol frjjc ja my lenjw. @ uigajrmlb iursl o`s hust agigsolb t`cg id ` nejjb s`mpel. Vol tufcs tol sm`ee tunls ja my togfc rlb nejjb gitj ` sm`ee f`rrygid f`sl `ib el`vls us `ejil. ?Rol nejjb s`mpels `rl tj tlst ajr VRBs `ib tj bj sjml n`sgf dliltgf tlstgid. Il xt yju=ee nl `iswlrgid ` slrgls ja qulstgjis `njut yjur n`fcdrjuib, a`mgey ogstj ry, `ib rjm`itgf ogstjry, sj wl f`i `sslss woltolr yju=rl rl`by ajr tol prjflss. Roli yju=ee nl bjgid ` tojrjudo psyfojejdgf`e lv`eu`tgji tj bltlrmgil yjur plrs ji`egty typl. Tl usl tolsl e`st twj tlsts tj agib yju ` ousn`ib. ?Ojw bj yju cijw ga G=m rl`by ajr tol prjflss: G rlsgst `i urdl tj pe`fl `gr qujt ls `rjuib tol wjrb ?prjflss. ?@s G tjeb yju ylstlrb`y, jil ja tol prlrlqugsgtls gs o`vgid sgx a`gelb rle`tgji sogps. Tl=vl bltlrmgilb to`t pljpel `rli=t rl`by tj dgvl up tolgr `tt`fomlit tj tol fjiflpt ja rjm`itgf ejvl ga toly=vl o`b `iy alwlr to`i sgx. Bgb G tlee olr ylstlrb`y G=b o`b sgx rle`tgjisogps: G must o`vl, nut G bji=t lvl i rlmlmnlr t`ecgid `njut gt. Jo, tol mgib-iumngid pjwlr ja lxtrlml sojfc. ?Jo, yls, ja fjursl, G s`y, ojpgid togs sjuibs egcl ` sugt`nel `iswlr. ?Wju=ee el`ri mjrl `njut `ee ja togs gi tolr`py. ?^gdot. ?Vo`ee wl dlt st`rtlb: ?Vurl.

Vol fjudos pjegtley. ?Ms. Neytol, yju m`y rlf`ee to`t wl rlqugrl tol agrst p`yml it nlajrl wl f`i prjfllb. Rol agrst p`ymlit: Vogt. Ojw mufo gs to`t suppjslb tj nl: G bji=t o`vl tli tojus `ib bjee`rs, `ib lvli ga G bgb, G flrt`giey wjuebi=t dgvl gt tj Mgss [lralft O`g r. Nlsgbls, wo`t ga G bji=t p`ss tol tlst jr toly f`i=t agib ml ` m`tfo: Bj toly prjvgbl ` rlauib ga tol m`i toly agib gs ij nejjby djjb: You're reading a free preview. Subscribe to read this title. Activity (5) Filters Add to collectionReviewAdd noteLikeEmbed matamgirl reviewed this|6 months ago Rated 3/5 First of all I love the Anne of Green Gables books so this book gets points for that reference.Anne Blythe is a single woman in her 30s who always picks the wro ng men and so she decides to try an arranged marriage instead when a card falls in her hands as she is crossing the street. I think that I am predisposed to lik e this more than others because of the Anne references but at the same time look ing at that without that it is just standard chick lit fare. Sure the concept of arranged marriage is not one typical found in the genre but it is otherwise pre tty identical to all other books. This isn't a bad thing and I think that as a n ovel of its type it is well-written and I would somewhere down the line pick up another book of the author's to read. This is a review that I wrote for the ARC I won on Librarything. jdy_26 reviewed this|7 months ago Rated 4/5 A fun,quick easy read. My first book by this author, and definitely won't be the last. Really like her style, and the way she drew me into the characters. jess0124_1 reviewed this|8 months ago Rated 4/5 For starters, I really dislike chick lit. REALLY. That being said, this book som ewhat drew me in. I spent the first third of the book convincing myself that I d idn't enjoy it - but I found myself really wanting to pick it up and keep going. Anne Blythe is like all single 30-somthing women who are looking for love but c an't seem to find the right man. After she discovers that her live-in boyfriend is cheating on her and her best friend is getting married, Anne decides to call a dating service. Except, it isn't a dating service and instead she finds hersel f on the path to an arranged marriage. This book makes the reader question what is more important in a relationship - friendship or love? And is it possible to have both?Great beach read! jmchshannon reviewed this|8 months ago Anne Blythe is lonely. All she wants is to live happily ever after with her soul mate, as her namesake Anne Shirley Blythe does in the Anne of Green Gables seri es. Recognizing that she tends to make poor decisions when it comes to men, she entertains the notion of a dating service, only to discover it is actually an ar ranged marriage service - one that predicates its success on the idea that marri age is about friendship rather than love. Going against her long-cherished dream of a fairy tale romance, she opts to continue the process and ends up marrying her profile match, but the question remains whether she will get her happy endin g after all. Catherine McKenzie s second novel, Arranged, explores the world of ar ranged marriage, the damage caused by a society obsessed with fairy tale endings and the notion of romantic love, and one girl s desire to reconcile the two.Like all of Ms. McKenzie s characters, there is an element of Every Girl in Anne. She r epresents almost every thirty-something single female frustrated with poor relat ionship choices and feeling a sense of desperation as friends pair off into marr ied couples and start families of their own. Her job is not glamorous, and her m oney struggles are familiar to everyone. She is not drop-dead gorgeous, does not have a fabulously expensive and trendy wardrobe, is not polished and collected, and simply does not have it all. In other words, she is just like everyone else . It is this realism that makes Ms. McKenzie s stories truly special, and Anne in

Arranged is just another example of this.All of Ms. McKenzie s characters are read ers, but in Arranged, she takes this fun element to a new level with characters named after one of the most beloved children s novels of all time. She freely ackn owledges the connection and uses it to create characters to which any bibliophil e can relate. The lighthearted mocking that comes with a mother obsessed with th e series and the random inclusion of certain very recognizable names, scenes, an d dialogue only adds to the story s charm.Arranged is yet another very strong nove l by Ms. McKenzie, in which she solidifies her reputation for quirky and adorabl e characters, strong female friendships, and storylines that never following the traditional path. She might write romantic comedies, but the path to happiness is never as expected and nor does it include a true happily-ever-after ending. M s. McKenzie has the ability to create characters that are as relatable as they a re enjoyable. Anne maintains the tradition of being realistic and endearing with her self-doubts, concerns about money, desire for happiness, and regular, ordin ary life. Her journey through the experience of arranged marriages, the paradigm shifts required for such arrangements, and the reactions of family and friends to the news is utterly fascinating, while Anne s bumbling and continued doubts mak e the story entrancing. As the second of three excellent and very different nove ls, Arranged proves that one can always rely on Ms. McKenzie to create a fun, ea sy-to-read, and creative story with characters that truly feel like long-lost fr iends. nbmars reviewed this|11 months ago Rated 4/5 Anne Shirley Blythe has grown up thinking that her life story would follow the a rc of the Anne of Green Gables series. She even has the same red hair, green eye s, and freckles. But she is now 33, and has yet to meet her perfect match. When her best friend becomes engaged, she decides to take a radical plunge and signs up with an agency that arranges marriages. And this premise is what made me want to read this book, even though this genre [sort of modified chick-lit] is not m y usual cup of tea. Arranged dates are common; but arranged marriages? Loads of plot possibilities!Anne does go through with an arranged marriage, and there are some very interesting complications, although until the marriage, the book drag ged a bit for me. Afterwards, however, it became quite intriguing, and I enjoyed the insightful comments about relationships along the way:"Wouldn t it be great i f you could videotape people during a breakup? Wouldn t it be great if you could h ave access to that videotape at the beginning of a relationship? Look how this g uy s going to be treating you in six, eight, ten months. Look how he treated the g irl he spent three years with! Run away, run away! [on the advantage of marrying a friend instead of someone with whom you are in love/lust]:"'Maybe it s harder to make it work if you start out in love, Jack says. Why do you think that? Because if th ings change, you remember how they used to be, and you re disappointed. If you don t have any expectations going in, you can t be let down. [Anne has a similar thought when analyzing her own reactions to romance:]"I know why I m scared of love. It s be cause that s when it always starts to go wrong. When it starts to deviate from the fairy tale. After the happy ending comes . . . disappointment. Could an arranged marriage, based on friendship rather than romantic love, conceivably be a better approach to navigating a world in which reality generally trumps ideals? a worl d in which relationships beginning with romance can rapidly switch from rabid ho rmones and fun dates to diapers and vacuuming and financial disagreements? Evalu ation: This is a little better than a light beach read. The beginning is a bit t oo stock to be interesting, and the ending a bit too predictable, but I enjoyed reading about the possibilities of an arranged marriage for those who opt for it voluntarily. One does, however, have to suspend temporarily one s objections to a female character who wants to be married more than anything else. bookdivasreads reviewed this|about 1 year ago Rated 4/5 This was a surprisingly good book (it was actually mentioned in a local book clu b meeting, so I decided to give it a read). Don't expect a run-of-the-mill roman ce when you grab this but do expect to be taken unawares, in a very good way. Th e characters all give the appearance of being real and quite well-developed and

the story line provides a nice twist. jencey_1 reviewed this|about 1 year ago Rated 4/5 Catherine Mackenzie is an International Bestselling author of Spin and Arranged. I have one copy of Arranged to giveaway to a lucky reader. I am also so excited to share her latest book.Synopsis:Anne seems to fall in and out of relationship s while she watches others find success. Her best friend Sarah is recently engag ed and her brother Gilbert has a great family. Anne ponders what she can do to c hange her luck and then she finds a business card for Blythe and Company. What d oes Blythe and Company do? They arrange marriages. What will Anne find and will it be the love of her life?My Thoughts:Other people have highly recommended Cath erine Mackenzie. I won her book through librarything.com. I really enjoyed the b ook and couldn t put it down. I stayed up late to read about ninety pages last. I had to find out how it ended.Catherine is stopping by to share her thoughts on A nne Shirley and Anne Blythe and their relationship to Arranged.ARRANGED is about a woman who uses an arranged marriage service, and the main character is named Anne Shirley Blythe after the protagonist in the Anne of Green Gables books. Her mother has always been obsessed with these books, and when she had the (good fo rtune) to marry a man name Blythe, she named her daughter Anne and her son Gilbe rt (a little Flowers in the Atticky, I admit). The choice of Anne's name was del iberate. Besides the (I hope) humor value, I chose to name my main character aft er Anne because of who I imagined Anne needed to be to go through with an arrang ed marriage. When I was trying to figure out what might lead a woman to use that kind of service, I thought about how the whole concept of an arranged marriage was the antithesis to the fairytale, romantic stories we get fed all the time. I thought that if a woman grew up believing in those kinds of fairytales, partly because of her mother's obsession, but also because she looked like the characte r she was named after, and the fairytale didn't come true, she'd be a likely can didate. She never expected to have to work to find a good relationship and so wh en fate doesn't work out for her, she's willing to turn over her love life to so meone else. So that's how Anne ended up being named Anne.Contact Catherine throu gh Facebook and her website or e-mail.Please check posts your entries through th e rafflecopter below. Please also include a comment below your e-mail or I won t b e able to send you your prize. The giveaway is open to US residents. The giveawa y will run from August 23, 2012 to August 30th at mid night verbafacio reviewed this|about 1 year ago Rated 4/5 Chick lit can be a bit formulaic, but Arranged has found a twist that is certain ly imaginative. When a woman decides on the spur of the moment to try an arrange d marriage service, she has no idea what she is getting into. On a whirlwind vac ation to Mexico, she meets -- and marries -- the guy of her dreams. I really app reciated the discussion of how an arranged marriage usually works (friendship fi rst) and enjoyed how McKenzie explores cultural expectations of marriage between different groups. Arranged marriage comes out looking more or less like a reaso nable option within the universe of the book, an intriguing perspective.The lite rature geek in me also leaped with joy at the constant Anne of Green Gables refe rences. In fact, if you are a die hard Anne fan, you might consider checking thi s book out even if you are unsure about the main plotline. reviewsfromtheheart reviewed this|about 1 year ago Rated 4/5 In the latest novel by Catherine McKenzie, Arranged is a book I think every sing le woman can relate to. I know I for one can! In this delightful romantic fictio n, Anne Blythe is ready for a change in her normal life. Seeing the future for w hat it can be, she realizes that the man she's been living with Stuart has been cheating on her. He wasn't about to tell her until she came across his emails an d with that all the proof she needed to confront him.Now that she has moved out and is hoping to move on, Anne struggles with her emotions like all of us women have at one point, asking herself why are my relationships working out? Why am I always with the wrong guy and how can I find the right one I know is out there for me? Why do all my family and friends find the right one, but I am left with

Mr. Wrong?Then she is hit with all kinds of news she doesn't need in her life. H er brother Gil and his wife, Cathy, are having their fourth child and her parent s wonder just when Anne is finally going to get her life together