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Marylise.

It's been two weeks since I started teaching math to Harry, my best friend's neighbor. I was able to teach him those lessons without my mom knowing, because she wouldn't let me do it.

Ever since Dad left to serve in the Navy ten months ago, I've noticed that she's been much stricter with me and my brother. We used to all hang out together everywhere. But now she won't even let me out on the corner. . . I understand that she's afraid that something bad might happen to us now that my father's gone, but sometimes she exaggerate too much. And I don't like that very much. Especially since she wouldn't let me be with Harry. . . teaching him math, of course.

Whom I cheat. . . I like being with him. I like it more than I'd like to accept.

Every time he offers me his hand, every time he tells me little girl, every time he smiles, every time he talks to me, every time he looks at me, every time he makes any gesture while watching me, I feel something strange going through my belly and