Richie saw the empty street where nothing moved and suddenly burst into tears. Bill looked at him for a moment and then put his arms around Richie and hugged him. Richie clutched at Bill's neck and hugged him back.
āāD-Donāt, R-Richie,ā Bill said, āduh-duh-duh-h-h āā Then he burst into tears himself and they only hugged each other on their knees in the street beside Billās spilled bike, and their tears made clean streaks down their cheeks, which were sooted with coaldust.



















