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8 School Days A small cracked black and white picture. School name and year printed across the bottom. Marietta 1940 She is barely six. Mouth pressed in a line, no trace of a smile anywhere on her face, her eyes black and full of sadness. Head tilted slightly, straight black hair cut chin length and held away from her face by a ribbon tied in a bow. Does it match her dress? No color in that world. No one left to ask. The photographer tells her to smile, again. Does she already see the disappointments that lay before her? The shutter clicks. Flash. Next. A screen door slams. Mama? Daddy? 9 The matron tells her to stop crying, again. Creaky hinges on a front gate draw her to a window where she waits. Mouth pressed in a line, her eyes black and full of sadness. ...

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