Chapter 21
Michele left early that day to make it home ahead of her mom, and as usual when Michele wasn’t around, Angel seemed to deflate. Clara still wouldn’t let her out by herself, and they were all careful about where they took her in town. Steven, and some of the old-timers, held a grudge against her, more than Michele even, for old Ron Wallen.
Angel seemed to understand this, almost instinctively, as if she were used to being hated. With Michele, or Clara, she was fine, but without them she seemed to lose all interest in social interaction. She was content, it seemed, to listen to her radio, or read one of the books Michele had brought her, or to just settle back into her own deep thoughts. She did that for hours at a time if left alone. Just sat, as if sleeping with her eyes
