It strikes me as the type of thing that other boys would say and usually to insult me. From Sean it sounds as odd as it does a bit flattering, but I try my best not to preen like Corr in front of Dove. The last thing we need is to make fools of each other now.

"The library," I say. "I'm going to find a book on computers until I understand it will enough to get a job and afford better than beans."

I'm not eating beans anymore but I'm not eating well either. I've traded beans for eggs and, when I am feeling as if I deserve something nice, a large bag of oranges. I thought about buying a chicken but it was such a colorless, flabby thing under the plastic wrap that I had a hard time believing it would taste of anything anyway.