Gem Atkinson and others, after breakfast, changed clothes in their rooms. Seventeen put on an outfit she always liked: a mid-length trench coat, tight jeans, and military boots. Once dressed, her previous sloppiness was gone, replaced by an air of crisp efficiency.
Clive was sitting on the living room sofa reading the paper. Seventeen looked around and, not seeing Gem or Audrey, sat down next to Clive, draping an arm over his shoulder and asked, "Hey, handsome, where's your dad and the others?"
Clive silently looked at Seventeen's hand and then silently raised his eyes to meet hers before finally saying, "Take your hand off."
"Ha, kid, what's with that look? You think I'd be inappropriate with you or something?"
Seventeen's Yat Nation language skills were poor; she confused "inappropriate" with "sleazy."
Clive figured it out and looked at her with disdain, saying, "Uncultured, learn to speak properly. Now, take your hand off."
