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"Not usually," she says. "Until today, I thought that the only people who didn't go thump were," she simplifies a little to avoid alarming the three-year-old, "dead. But you're perfectly alive."

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"I am alive. Are you sure I don't thump?"

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"Pretty sure. Elizabeth, can I listen to you too?"

Lizbeth nods. Virginia listens to her.

"Yep," she says, "completely regular thumping."
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"Gina, if people who don't thump are dead and I am alive and don't thump does that mean I will not ever die?"

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"...Probably not. People who are dead also don't move around or breathe or talk or eat, and you do all of those."

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"I want to not ever die, though."

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"Yes," says Virginia, "that would be nice."

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"Why don't I thump?"

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"I have no idea."

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"I hope not," she says before she can stop herself.

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She shakes her head. "Never mind, sorry. I'm just very confused. And I wouldn't like it if I found out that Chris knew all about this and then didn't tell me."

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"Why would she have to tell you that I don't thump if she knew?"

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"Part of what a babysitter does is make sure you're safe," she explains. "Whatever the reason is why you don't have a heartbeat, it means that you don't work the way most people do, and not knowing anything about that means I might not be able to do my job. So if Chris knows, it would be irresponsible of her not to tell me."

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"I bet she doesn't know. I never played with that thing before. And I came from a basket."

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"Okay," says Virginia.

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Lizbeth watches them both thoughtfully.

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"What?" Katie asks Lizbeth.

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"I dunno."

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"Do I have to start thumping, Gina? I don't think I would like to thump."

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"...Could you start thumping if you tried?" she inquires. At this point she is willing to believe it might be possible.

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"I don't know how to try to thump. Are you trying?"

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"No. Everyone else just does it without trying, and we couldn't stop if we wanted to, and if we did stop we'd die."

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"I don't think I can start, then."

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