I made it a block and just outside the crush of onlookers when my legs gave out. Mom took Petunia, Dad supporting me but as soon as I was able to kick off the idiotic shoes on my sore and unhappy feet I felt a ton better.

"I'm okay, I promise," I said, now annoyed and grasping for that emotion as a source of strength. I shrugged Dad's arm off and crossed my own over my chest, hugging myself while I stomped toward Petunia's, the dirty pavement under my bare feet icy ...