if he did n't get some relief soon he would burst at the seams . she jumped to work , grabbing ingredients from the refrigerator . `` and put down that silly dog . her attitude was surprisingly belligerent , and i wondered why she was letting her emotions show like this . once i could think about something other than the pain , i hobbled back onto the chair . and later ... afterward ... there was a smell , a horrible , rotten smell . ' `` how does someone our age end up working for circle ? '' 