at my age im just glad fer the opportunity ta pretend ta be happy . `` go to sleep now , my lovely one , '' he said . before she could turn to see who 'd stepped out from the shade of the oaks , something poked her in the side of her hip : round and hard . earlier , before urban danger took the stage , a group of teenagers had broken away from the crowd and slinked away . wear two , if you can , i advised . she did n't rise from her seat . 