[ "they like me because i'm cute," she thinks but doesn't say. she just tilts her head and wanders over to sit on his desk, next to him. with her feet dangling off the floor, she looks at him with a bright, beaming grin. ]

Yeah, maybe. So what? [ honestly. who cares how good or not good he is? sha-ming is sha-ming. ]

Nuh-uh. This isn't about me, buster. [ then who is it about...? hmmm. ] Sha-ming Jr., don't you agree?

[ cheep, cheep goes the chicken in her tight, unforgiving grip. free me, it's dead stare begs. ] Yes, this really is about your father, isn't it?