Ricky Granite Has Never Seen Anything Like This

Ricky Granite said I do not belong in the squared place. He said that! Out loud! Where people could hear it!

I have been charting the star positions above my backyard for eleven years, Ricky. ELEVEN. I have a laminated map. Momma said it was a waste of laminate but she was wrong and I -- I should not have said that. She might be watching. Sorry, Momma. Sorry for saying sorry.

But RICKY. Ricky, Ricky, Ricky. You stand there looking like you have never once been afraid of a single thing and that is exactly the problem with you, that is the whole entire problem, because a person who has never been afraid has never had to think very carefully about their situation and I think very carefully, Ricky, I think so carefully that sometimes I forget to eat my dinner and Momma has to call me twice, which she says she should not have to do but she does it anyway because she loves me even when she is disappointed, which is most of the time now, apparently?

The man with the stripes will be there. He knows the rules. I have also memorized most of the rules. Probably.

You are going to regret every word, Ricky Granite. I am doing this all by myself.