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Tragic Coolness
(Giselle Renarde)

"Oh my God, it's Len!" Oka cried, jumping up and down.  She dropped her bucket and waved her hands in the air.  "Len!  Over here!  Lenny-baby!  Here I am!  I'm working!  Can you believe it?"

Len waved back and started running across the fallow field.

"Someone's with him," Tats said, more to herself than to Oka.  She could barely make out the stranger's features at a distance, but something about him made her feel anxious.  She picked up her pail and inched her way out of the row.  "You and Len can pick.  I'll take what I've got to the market stall."

Oka grabbed her by the arm.  "You ain't goin' nowhere, sister."

Tatyana's heart hammered, and she said, "Mae needs our help. I can hand out apple bags. It's no big deal.  You stay here with Len... and his friend."

"I think that's Len's neighbour from the city or something."  Oka wouldn't let go.  "Just stay and say hello."

"Oka, please don't make me.  You know what I'm like with new people."

"Tats, stay!  Never know.  Maybe this neighbour guy's your magic man.  God knows you've been waiting long enough for your miracle to come."