“It’s going through your head,” says her mother, like maybe she missed that.

“Brain piercing is perfectly safe,” says Alberta. “I went and got it done at a licensed clinic, okay? Not some stand at the mall. I can show you a copy of the certificate–”

“You look like a damn–a damn Stooge Brothers joke!”

“Who?”

“I am taking you back there tomorrow,” sobs her mother, “and we are getting that taken–don’t roll your eyes at me!”

But Alberta is rolling them, so far that her pupils disappear.

“Alberta?” says her mother.

Foam starts to leak from Alberta’s mouth.