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THANKFULLY, PENG DID NOT CALL in sick from work. Julia picked him up as he rounded the corner 20 feet from her. Sam had described a rough experience for Peng and the integration the day before. Perhaps he was more scared of not showing up for work than he was of the integration experience.
Keeping her head down, she walked toward him and managed to graze the knuckles of his left hand with hers. The contact went unregistered on the sidewalk jammed with jostling morning commuters.
The Slip was away again and Julia continued in the opposite direction.
