“you little fool” she hissed “don’t you know, you’re supposed to just agree, and say it back sometimes so they hear it too. ooo! now it looks like i agree with you, and why do you want trouble for everyone!”

“but i don’t agree. saying it would make it true, in some ways, and my saying the contrary doesn’t mean...what you said...i don’t want trouble for you”

“none of do,” tiana interrupted “not really anyway, but if one of us says that they think we’re talking about it being a lie”

but we are aren’t we?

not me! not me. i need to agree, else they punish me too. i’d rather eat than be right, girl, and what you do with your belly is only your business.