3. Orange visits Jody's House
Jody's place was big, and warm, and inviting. It smelled of bacon and eggs and dirty diapers.
Orange had one more piece of toast, and shared one last bite of scrambled eggs with Jody's youngest, a boy with sand-colored hair. Then he got down on the floor and dropped his finger of toast, soggy at the edge. Orange picked it up and put it on her plate.
Jody's youngest daughter padded barefoot toward Orange, with the little one's face scrunched up, her eyes staring at Orange. "How old are you?"
"I'm twenty five now. How old are you?" The little girl held up three fingers. Her face didn't change. She said, "How come your name is Orange?" That was the strangest thing in the world, judging by the little girl's expression.
"Well, my real name is Aurene Lenicki. Orange is my nickname, given to me by your mom when we were little."
The little girl frowned and then turned to go back into the front room.
Orange helped Jody wipe up the counters and the table. Jody swept the floor. Orange went into the front room and tried to get the two children to pick up toys and put them in the plastic bin, with not much success. Then she decided to go.
Jody walked her little sister out to the car, It was a twenty-year-old Datsun, rusty but still running well. "You're taking care of this thing," she said. "Well, I love ya, Sister." They hugged and then Orange started the car. "Thanks for everything, Jo"
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