Innocence Lost

hello mrs. lubner. can billy come out and play?
oh hi eddie. no, he's with his girlfriend.
he has a . . . girlfriend? billy?
I'm afraid so. he grew up so fast.
billy? grown up? but we're. . . 11.
you'll grow up too, eddie. I promise.
soon?
well, eventually.
ok. well if he comes home, I'll just be outside, digging up worms.
that's nice.
not as nice as having a girlfriend though, is it.
not so much.