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11/04/2004: "Little Em'ly"
Little Em'ly was in the office the other day. Her school was closed for Election Day, and she was looking after a little girl who was also adrift on holiday. We heard all she knew about the Electoral College: she thinks it should be abolished. I can't say I disagree but I have no expectations that it ever will be. She speaks in a stop-and-start fashion, stammering, hesitating, trailing off, but her destination is clear. It is like that when she moves, pigeon-toed, almost falling forward, not rhythmic but almost tumbling down towhere she goes. Since her father died in March, she has been around the office a lot. She helps in sunday School and with mailings. We saw her when her braces came off. he has a job at the pizza place across the street. I was with her at the Relay for Life, when she sat beside the candle lit in his memory for so many minutes. She is sad in the eyes, and uncertain, and frightened. I didn't see her cry.
