But looking back on it, it seems we were similar in ways that didn't matter, and different in ways that did. Not different like Joey having a baby sister while I didn't. Different deeper down than that. Though Joey's little sister was something else. Joey said Rhonda was like a booger that you couldn't flick off, but I thought she was cute. Shoot, her being a girl with only one name was enough right there to make me like her. But it was more the way she was always so happy to see me that I liked. She'd squeal, “Russy!” any time I'd walk through the door, then patter over and jump up and down. “Horsey! Horsey!” So I'd give her horsey rides all over the house, kickin' and neighin' and acting like a crazy wild mustang. And of course Amanda Jane would turn her nose up and head for our house, but Mrs. Banks didn't seem to mind the racket, and Mr. Banks just turned up the TV and drowned us out. Then one day after giving Rhonda the best mustang ride ever, I collapsed on my belly and said to Joey's mama,“Ma'am, you really got to get this girl a pony.”
