STARR JERKS TO A HALT WHEN SHE SEES DARREN’S injuries. She gives him a hug right away, which is okay, even for Kathleen, because Starr’s met him before and because I’m here, loaded down with her overnight bag and the terrarium.
Her turtles, Alex and Mallory, are stacked against each other on a rock, only their back feet in the turgid water. We’ve missed a tank cleaning. When we got them, we agreed to do the maintenance on the condition that Starr take care of feedings. Truthfully, she’s not great at keeping up a schedule with them but, we figure, they’re turtles, they can make it through the lean times and fat.
I hadn’t wanted to bring them, but Starr refused to come without them.
Starr is still petting Darren’s bruise when I open the door for her. “Does it hurt here?” she asks. “Do you
