The young deputy had never been involved in a shooting incident, continued to watch the man approach. He felt as if he was seeing everything that was ...happening in slow motion. He knew he was reacting, but his reactions seemed to be in altered time. It was as if the world had slowed down. He heard himself yelling at Lise to get down on the floor of the car and could feel his hand reaching for the pistol in the holster on his belt and fumbling to get the safety strap off. Then his hand wrapped. “I hated it. It was awful. It wasn’t just the physical discomfort either. My breasts were growing, and I strapped them down tight, making excuses in gym class changing rooms about an ongoing back problem. I was sore and aching all the time I wore that strapping, but I could have endured it if it had made me feel like I was fitting in. It didn’t. I was never like them, no matter how I tried to be. I was so depressed. I felt like a fraud, constantly.”Her voice lowered as she continued. “I lasted. All the way home I was thinking about my options.The problem now was that I couldn't use the garage without explaining to my parents why I needed it. I took the sweeper Rod had left into the garage in case whoever might stop by later decided to search the truck. I could go over it sometime tomorrow at school. I seriously doubted they had anyone watching me there; the goonies would be all over anyone hanging around like that. I still didn't tell Allison, no point in scaring her any worse than. Hmmm. I think I know why the red-haired Arab dude was staring at me. It’s not because of my skin color, or anything like that. It’s because of my crucifix. Suddenly I remember the TIME magazine article about the persecution of Arab Christians in Arab countries like Egypt and Lebanon. I think this red-headed Arab bozo is Muslim, and he can’t stand the sight of my crucifix because he hates Christians. Well, buddy, you moved to a predominantly Christian country where your Muslim ass is the.