i brighten a little too much and chime , `` oh , okay . also the black man had a joint dangling out of his horrid mouth . they were the ones who had spied on her , taken her from her life , played with her head . `` no , '' he told her softly , `` i do n't . '' then he said , `` one thing at a time . '' warm to the touch , just like a sunburn , but one she 'd gotten from the inside out . 