But she wasn't as cranky as she'd been last night, arriving here late on the bus. A good night's sleep had done wonders for Amy's disposition. She'd slept until noon and she felt almost human again.

But she was bored already, and it was only the start of her first full day at Aunt Molly's farm. Was it gonna get worse than this? She wished she'd been able to talk her folks into letting her stay at home, by herself. But that was a lost cause. They didn't trust her to take care of herself.

She didn't fucking know why! She'd never been really bad. How could she, with as tight a rein as they kept on her? Jesus, everybody else had been dating and wearing makeup and radical clothes since the fifth or sixth grade, and Amy was still waiting for her first chance just to kiss a boy. Still, she'd thought maybe this summer would be special, but there was no fucking way that could happen, not with Amy Gibbs stashed away on a farm at the ass-end of Meigs County.

She picked up the note Aunt Molly had left for her. Her mom was always leaving notes, too. Once she'd found a note pinned to her bra. It must run in tile family.

Betsy would be working in the vegetable garden, the note said. Amy snickered. Who the fuck would want to work in a vegetable garden?

"If she's not there," the note went on, "try the pond in the woods. I think she sneaks up there to skinny-dip. She's left a well-beaten path."

"What the fuck!" Amy said. Maybe she'd go look for Betsy. As far as she knew, Betsy was the only living soul around here, and they night as well get acquainted. Maybe Betsy knew some interesting things to do.

She walked through the meadow. She was a tall girl, long legged, red hair blowing in the warm breeze. Her freckled skin was a healthy shade of pink; she never got much of a tan, but she didn't mind too much. She wore a sleeveless top, running shorts, and sneakers. The high grass tickled her bare legs, and she could hear birds singing. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad down here on the farm. The air smelled funny without the city's constant haze of auto exhaust fumes. Amy thought she might be starting to like it.