{"id":4020,"date":"2026-10-25T16:09:50","date_gmt":"2026-10-25T23:09:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/needlepictures.com\/tbd\/?p=4020"},"modified":"2026-10-25T16:09:50","modified_gmt":"2026-10-25T23:09:50","slug":"offspring","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/needlepictures.com\/tbd\/2026\/10\/25\/offspring\/","title":{"rendered":"Offspring – An excerpt from my novel Circus Tent"},"content":{"rendered":"

Circus Tent<\/a> is a series of short stories and rock and roll vignettes about Skye Wright’s band The Dynamite Chicks going on a cross-country tour.<\/p>\n

Preston runs into his daughter as the tour goes through Texas, the seventeen year old daughter that he did not know that he had until a few months prior. <\/em><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/center><\/p>\n

Offspring <\/strong><\/p>\n

     Preston spotted her when she saw her friend, a tall and skinny punk with a torn up Total Chaos shirt and ratty multicolored braids who was jumping up and down like an excited school kid.
\n     She was laughing, with a big wide grin, as her taller and almost as skinny-as-herself friend was making a scene.
\n     Trieste and her friends were backstage for the show, wearing the backstage passes that Skye had gotten for them.
\n     \u201cWho let these skanky little punks in here?\u201d said Miranda quite loudly as she walked in with her bass case.
\n     Trieste and her friends circled up with Miranda. The appearance of his tall and dangerous-looking girlfriend changed their demeanor, almost like rowdy school kids when the teacher walked in.
\n     \u201cWhat the fuck are you talking about?\u201d said Miranda suddenly, trying to look mean while smiling at the same time.
\n     Miranda leaned in and whispered something. Trieste and her small group of friends let out a collected \u201cEeeew!\u201d as Trieste\u2019s tall and skinny friend gave Miranda a shove.
\n     Preston recognized the other friend, the one with the stringy red hair who always wore a wool cap. It was her rowdy friend Rudy, the one who had confronted Miranda when Trieste first came around.
\n     The flashbacks shot through his mind, when Miranda came up to him at The Stork Club, that night Trieste had arrived to find him and let him know that she was his daughter. That was the night when he found out his ex-fling Tiffany, known as Texas Tiffany in the scene, had run back to her old home town once she discovered she was pregnant, giving birth to his daughter and concealing that fact from him for more than a decade.
\n     Trieste was compelled to find him once her mother confessed that the boyfriend of Miranda Scholl, one of the most recognizable members of The Dynamite Chicks, was her father.
\n     He knew that if it were not for Miranda he would have had a much tougher time dealing with the revelation.
\n     \u201cYo! What the fuck ya\u2019 doin\u2019?\u201d asked Annie through her flailing mane of frizzy black hair as she barged up to Preston.
\n     Preston looked down at the guitar in his hands. \u201cWhoops.\u201d
\n     \u201cYa tune \u2018em yet?\u201d
\n     \u201cNaw.\u201d He tossed his head in the direction of Trieste and Miranda.
\n     \u201cWhat? Who\u2019s that?\u201d
\n     \u201cY\u2019heard about my kid?\u201d
\n     Annie\u2019s eyes became wide. She looked over at the group. \u201cWhich one is she again?\u201d
\n     \u201cWith the black hair, wearing the DOA shirt.\u201d
\n      \u201cDamn boy, she\u2019s beautiful! Nice job.\u201d
\n      Preston felt flush. \u201cI\u2019m still tryin\u2019 to get used to the idea.\u201d
\n      \u201cNo shit. I don\u2019t know that I got the whole story. Your bitch ex just ran off an\u2019 never told you about her?\u201d
\n     \u201cUntil she showed up at the Hat Confusion show, I had no idea she even existed.\u201d
\n     Annie shook her head. \u201cFuck me.\u201d
\n     Preston put down Annie\u2019s guitar. \u201cIt\u2019s just\u2026 I don\u2019t know how to explain it.\u201d
\n     \u201cYou should go talk to her. I can tune my own guitar.\u201d
\n     Preston turned to see Miranda walking offstage. His skin stood on edge when he saw Trieste and her friends walking toward him.
\n     \u201cShe\u2019s comin\u2019 to say hi,\u201d said Annie as she picked up her guitar.
\n     \u201cDon\u2019t leave me,\u201d hissed Preston through his teeth.
\n     \u201cWhat?\u201d
\n     \u201cI\u2019m serious.\u201d
\n     Trieste\u2019s smile slowly faded as she walked up to Preston with her friends.
\n     \u201cHey,\u201d said Trieste as if she had forgotten his name.
\n     \u201cHey Trieste.\u201d
\n     Annie punched Preston on the shoulder. \u201cHug your kid you dumb bastard!\u201d
\n     Preston rolled his eyes, rubbed his shoulder where Annie had hit him, and gave Trieste an awkward hug.
\n     Annie saw the look on Trieste\u2019s face when she embraced him, squeezing her eyes shut as if she was overwhelmed.
\n     Her look quickly disappeared when Preston let her go, putting her poker face back on.
\n     \u201cI think we met briefly back in SF,\u201d said Annie as she extended a hand.
\n     \u201cEverybody here knows who you are,\u201d said Trieste\u2019s tall and skinny friend who pointed at Annie.
\n     \u201cThose rumors aren\u2019t true!\u201d said Annie. \u201cI think Preston started all of that unfounded gossip to spite me.\u201d
\n     \u201cEven the rumor about the boy scouts and the senator?\u201d asked tall and skinny.
\n     \u201cOh no, that one\u2019s true.\u201d
\n     Trieste rolled her eyes. \u201cThis is Claire. She\u2019s the funny one.\u201d
\n     \u201cYes, I can tell,\u201d said Preston.
\n     \u201cYou guys take requests?\u201d asked Trieste\u2019s friend Rudy as she barged up to Annie.
\n     \u201cNo Free Bird!\u201d said Annie.
\n     \u201cHow about some Journey?\u201d asked Rudy with an impish smile. \u201cWheel in the Sky?\u201d
\n     \u201cGail would love us for that.\u201d
\n     \u201cSay what?\u201d
\n     \u201cGail Burp.\u201d
\n     \u201cWhat about her?\u201d
\n     \u201cShe\u2019s a huge Journey fan. She has a raging crush on Steve Perry.\u201d
\n     \u201cWhat the fuck are you talking about?\u201d blurted Claire. \u201cShe\u2019s a dyke!\u201d
\n     \u201cShe\u2019s also a rabid Journey fan. Don\u2019t make fun of them if she\u2019s around or she\u2019ll get bent outta shape.\u201d
\n     Trieste turned to Preston as her friends bantered with Annie. \u201cThanks for gettin\u2019 Skater Scabs in on this,\u201d said Trieste.
\n     \u201cThat was Skye. She\u2019s the one you should be thanking.\u201d
\n     Trieste leaned towards Preston. \u201cThey\u2019re a little nervous,\u201d she whispered.
\n     \u201cBecause of the venue?\u201d
\n     \u201cThey\u2019ve only played dinky clubs an\u2019 house parties an\u2019 shit like that. This is way bigger than any other place they\u2019ve been in.\u201d
\n     \u201cIs your boyfriend nervous? Because I could talk to him.\u201d
\n     \u201cWell\u2026\u201d Trieste darted her eyes.
\n     \u201cHm?\u201d
\n     Trieste looked down at the floor as she wrung her hands. \u201cHe\u2019s not my boyfriend anymore.\u201d
\n     Preston was surprised, not only at the news, but also at the seethe that went through him.
\n     \u201cWhat happened?\u201d asked Preston. \u201cDid you break up with him?\u201d
\n     \u201cHe broke up with me.\u201d
\n     \u201cSeriously?\u201d blurted Preston. \u201cWhy?\u201d
\n     \u201cI\u2026 don\u2019t really want to get into it.\u201d
\n     Preston\u2019s mind went blank as he felt a roil of unfamiliar emotions.
\n     He tried to press it down. He looked over to Annie who was still talking to Rudy and Claire.
\n     \u201cDo me a favor,\u201d said Preston.
\n     \u201cYeah?\u201d
\n     \u201cDon\u2019t tell Skye or Miranda that Scoop dumped you.\u201d
\n     Trieste\u2019s expression turned to confusion, or possibly alarm. \u201cWhy?\u201d
\n     \u201cWell, they\u2019re kinda\u2026 They can get a little terse at times.\u201d
\n     \u201cWhat?\u201d
\n     \u201cThey both got kinda shitty tempers.\u201d
\n     Trieste\u2019s eyes became wide. \u201cThey wouldn’t hurt him, would they?\u201d
\n     Preston\u2019s skin went cold.
\n     He stood straight and steeled his eyes. \u201cNo, they wouldn\u2019t hurt him, but they might get bent outta shape about it. They\u2019re like that. They really like you, and they can be protective of people they care about.\u201d
\n     Trieste looked around with worried eyes. \u201cHe\u2019s still my friend, if that makes any difference.\u201d
\n     \u201cThey won\u2019t do anything.\u201d Preston could feel himself burning as he said it. \u201cNot with me around.\u201d
\n     \u201cOkay,\u201d said Trieste as if she were unsure.
\n     Preston looked around to see if he could find Scoop or any of the other Skater Scabs. \u201cYou still want me to talk to them?\u201d
\n     Trieste brightened up. \u201cIf you could, yeah.\u201d
\n     \u201cIs Rudy gonna beat me up?\u201d
\n     Trieste could not resist a smile. \u201cShe might try.\u201d
\n     Rudy turned and looked at them when she heard her name. She walked up to them.
\n     \u201cWell, if it ain\u2019t the deadbeat dad,\u201d snarked Rudy.
\n     Trieste punched Rudy on the shoulder. \u201cDon\u2019t fuckin\u2019 say that.\u201d
\n     Preston only raised an eyebrow.
\n     \u201cYou playin\u2019 on this tour?\u201d asked Rudy.
\n     \u201cNo. Just doin\u2019 roadie stuff.\u201d
\n     \u201cNot even your side gig?\u201d
\n     \u201cSide gig?\u201d asked Trieste.
\n     \u201cSkye an\u2019 me got a side gig,\u201d said Preston. \u201cIt\u2019s just a once in a while thing. Not a regular band.\u201d
\n     \u201cI heard you guys did a karaoke night,\u201d said Rudy.
\n     \u201cWhat?\u201d blurted Trieste.
\n     \u201cOur band played a karaoke night,\u201d said Preston. \u201cPeople came up to the stage and we played punk standards while people sang.\u201d
\n     \u201cHoly shit!\u201d exclaimed Trieste. \u201cThat\u2019s fuckin\u2019 cool.\u201d
\n     \u201cTell Skater Scabs. They can rip off the idea if they want.\u201d
\n     \u201cPfft!\u201d dismissed Rudy. \u201cThey ain\u2019t that good yet.\u201d
\n     \u201cSure they are.\u201d
\n     \u201cI wish I coulda been there,\u201d said Trieste.
\n     Trieste gave Rudy another punch on the shoulder and Rudy retreated to their gang, who were now talking to Skye as well as Annie.
\n     Trieste looked at Preston as she folded her hands. \u201cI was wonderin\u2019 if you wouldn\u2019t mind letting my ma come backstage.\u201d
\n     Preston\u2019s mind went blank.
\n     He looked up at the stage lights and took in a deep breath.
\n     \u201cI mean\u2026\u201d stuttered Trieste.
\n     \u201cHonestly, I don\u2019t know if I\u2019m ready to see her.\u201d
\n     \u201cYeah?\u201d
\n     Preston\u2019s mind was racing. \u201cIt might\u2026 I mean\u2026\u201d
\n     \u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d said Trieste as she put her hands behind her back.
\n     \u201cI gotta think about it. Finding out about you was kind of a shock.\u201d
\n     \u201cIt\u2019s okay.\u201d
\n     Trieste excused herself and went up to her friends who had floated towards the snack table.
\n     Preston reminded himself that he was supposed to be working. He went to tune Miranda\u2019s bass as he tried to remember what else he was supposed to be doing. He distracted himself with the details of the equipment, quickly tuning Annie\u2019s guitars and checking out her pedal board.
\n     \u201cWhat the fuck are you talking about?\u201d
\n     Preston quickly turned around when he heard Miranda\u2019s bellow. He spotted her by the snack table, furrowing her brow at Scoop.
\n     Scoop had his hands up, as if he were surrendering.
\n     \u201cYou\u2019ve got to be fucking kidding me!\u201d growled Miranda as Preston quickly walked up to them.
\n     \u201cIt\u2019s not like\u2026\u201d stuttered Scoop as he kept his hands up. \u201cI mean, we\u2019re\u2026\u201d
\n     Preston put a hand on Miranda\u2019s shoulder. \u201cBe cool.\u201d
\n     Miranda scowled at Scoop. \u201cYou\u2019re crazy! What were you thinking?\u201d
\n     Preston got between Miranda and Scoop, even though he could tell from her stance and tone that she was not actually agitated enough to strike.
\n     \u201cJesus, what the fuck?\u201d groused Miranda. \u201cHow could you ditch a catch like her?\u201d
\n     Preston looked right at Miranda. \u201cPrinciples before personalities, right?\u201d
\n     \u201cMan\u2026\u201d said Miranda as she threw up her hands and walked away.
\n     Preston could not help himself. He turned and gave Scoop a pointed look.
\n     \u201cIt\u2019s kind of a long story,\u201d defended Scoop.
\n     \u201cThey all are,\u201d said Preston. \u201cBelieve me, I know!\u201d
\n     Skye called out to Preston and he retreated to help out with the band’s set up. He was plugging in Annie’s pedal board at the same time he was trying to remind himself to talk to Scoop about how to handle playing in front of a large audience for the first time.
\n     He then decided he would ask Skye to give Scoop and his band that pep talk.
\n     Preston wanted to talk to Miranda, but he could tell she was still fuming. Preston did his best to give her the look, the one that he used to tell her to calm down, but he was not sure if it was having any effect.
\n     \u201cWhat’s up with your daughter?\u201d
\n     Preston felt a jolt go through him.
\n     He turned around. It was Roach.
\n     \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d asked Preston.
\n     \u201cTrieste. She seems like a real Debbie downer for someone who’s runnin’ around backstage at a big show.\u201d
\n     Preston looked around and spotted Trieste. She was standing near the exit, leaning against the wall with her hands behind her back.
\n     He put down Annie’s guitar and walked up to her.
\n     \u201cSo, yeah, it\u2019s all good,\u201d said Preston.
\n     \u201cWhat?\u201d
\n     \u201cYou can tell your ma it\u2019s cool to come backstage.\u201d
\n     Trieste\u2019s face screwed up. Preston could not tell if she was trying not to smile or if she was about to cry.
\n      \u201cJust go tell Colleen,\u201d said Preston. \u201cShe\u2019ll get her in.\u201d
\n      Trieste got out her phone and sent a quick text. She pocketed her phone and threw her arms around Preston.
\n     He hugged her back as she buried her face in his chest, holding him tight. He could feel her shudder.
\n     She let go of him. \u201cThank you,\u201d she said with a cracking voice.
\n     Trieste walked up to Colleen as Preston spotted Miranda by the drum riser, fiddling with the bass he had just tuned.
\n     \u201cHey,\u201d said Preston as he walked up to Miranda.
\n     \u201cI can\u2019t believe that little twerp dumped your daughter.\u201d
\n     \u201cI can\u2019t believe it either. But, y\u2019know, crazy little punks.\u201d
\n     \u201cYeah,\u201d said Miranda as she looked down at her bass.
\n     \u201cI\u2019m gonna need some back up.\u201d
\n     Miranda shot Preston an alarmed look. \u201cThrowdown?\u201d
\n     Preston shook his head. \u201cTiffany\u2019s coming by.\u201d
\n     Miranda\u2019s eyes grew wide. \u201cThe ex who never told you about your Trieste?\u201d
\n     \u201cI\u2019m not sure how I\u2019ll react when I see her.\u201d
\n     Miranda put down her bass. \u201cI don\u2019t know either.\u201d
\n     \u201cWe gotta stay cool for Trieste. She\u2019s the one who wants her to come by.\u201d
\n     Miranda let out a long sigh as she balled up her fists.
\n     \u201cIt\u2019s tough being nice,\u201d said Preston, \u201cain\u2019t it?\u201d
\n     \u201cIt\u2019s a goddamn drag.\u201d Miranda leaned towards Preston. \u201cBut I won\u2019t do anything. I promise.\u201d
\n     \u201cTry not to scowl either.\u201d
\n     \u201cPsh!\u201d
\n     A scratchy scrawl came out of the stage speakers. They turned and saw Rudy messing with one of the Skater Scabs guitars.
\n     Preston walked up to Rudy. Trieste was holding onto Scoop\u2019s bass while her friend Claire was sitting behind the drums.
\n     \u201cI didn\u2019t know you played guitar,\u201d said Preston.
\n     \u201cI don\u2019t,\u201d said Rudy as she concentrated on the fretboard. \u201cI mean, I kinda do and I kinda don\u2019t.\u201d
\n     Trieste blonked out a few notes on Scoop\u2019s bass as Claire tapped away on the snare and the high hat.
\n     Preston tried to be impressed with Trieste\u2019s bass playing skills. It was obvious that she had a few lessons, no doubt from Scoop.
\n     \u201cYou guys need to come up with a name for your band,\u201d said Preston.
\n     \u201cWe\u2019ll probably end up arguing about it,\u201d said Rudy.
\n     Preston backed up as the trio attempted to coordinate.
\n     \u201cGuffer Guff,\u201d said Miranda, who had sided next to Preston.
\n     \u201cWhat?\u201d
\n     \u201cIt\u2019s a Skater Scab\u2019s song. That\u2019s what they\u2019re trying to play.\u201d
\n     \u201cReally?\u201d
\n     Preston wondered if the song had lyrics as he listened to them blonk out the song. He noticed Scoop watching them from a distance, with a faraway look in his eye.
\n     The trio stopped playing. \u201cWe gotta try a different tune.\u201d
\n     Scoop walked up to Trieste. \u201cHere, lemme tune my bass.\u201d
\n     Rudy walked up to Preston. \u201cI gotta ask, did you really not know about Trieste until earlier this year?\u201d
\n     \u201cNo fucking clue. I had no idea Tiffany ran off and had my kid.\u201d
\n     Rudy narrowed her eyes. \u201cCome on, you didn\u2019t even suspect?\u201d
\n     \u201cWe weren\u2019t exactly a couple. We fooled around on and off for like, I don\u2019t know, a few months. We just hooked up now and then.\u201d
\n     \u201cOkay.\u201d Rudy looked up at Preston. \u201cI suppose I believe you.\u201d
\n     \u201cYou gotta understand, I was a drugged out mess back then. I didn\u2019t exactly keep in touch with a lotta people, especially a hit-and-run romance who just upped and disappeared. I was so blitzed out at the time I barely even noticed Tiffany was gone.\u201d
\n     \u201cSure.\u201d
\n     Skye walked up to them. She had strapped on her bass. \u201cGive Preston that guitar,\u201d said Skye.
\n     \u201cWhat?\u201d
\n     Skye pointed at Trieste who was standing by the drums, holding onto a mic. \u201cWe\u2019re gonna do some karaoke.\u201d
\n     Preston\u2019s heart skipped a beat.
\n     \u201cWhat\u2026\u201d stuttered Preston. \u201cWhat\u2019s she gonna sing?\u201d
\n     \u201cLong Black Veil, the punk version.\u201d
\n     \u201cWhat song?\u201d
\n     \u201cYou know, the punk version. The one by Baby Opaque.\u201d
\n     \u201cRight!\u201d
\n     Preston took the guitar and walked up to the stage, trying to remember the riffs for the loud and wild Johnny Cash cover that he had heard years ago.
\n     Plugging in, Preston felt nervous, but not for himself.
\n     \u201cYou remember the words?\u201d asked Skye as she walked up to Trieste.
\n     \u201cI think so?\u201d replied Trieste as she scrunched her nose.
\n     They started into the song and Preston was impressed that she was able to get through the first stanza. She started to stumble halfway through the song and her gang started heckling her, throwing paper cups and scrunched up napkins at her as she tried to sing the rest of the song while also laughing.
\n     Rudy came up and requested London Calling. Skye glanced at Preston as they sang backup, both of them impressed with Rudy’s singing skills.
\n     The tall and boisterous Claire insisted on singing a semi-competent version of Slave to my Dick. A few of Trieste’s other friends stuck to standards, singing Rebel Girl and Anarchy in the UK, both of them singing very much in amateur karaoke style.
\n     Claire came back up and requested Carnival by Bikini Kill, singing with a little more gusto and competence than her first go around.
\n     Preston glanced at Skye, seeing the bright look in her eye. He could tell she was having fun.
\n     Trieste walked up to Preston after Claire was finished singing. \u201cD\u2019ya think Skye would mind if I sang Atomic Bomb Betty?\u201d
\n     Preston stood straight as his skin stood on edge. \u201cShe would fuckin\u2019 love it!\u201d
\n     Trieste took the mic from Claire.
\n     Preston knew Skye was holding back a wide smile when Trieste told her what she wanted to sing.
\n     Starting the quick high-pitched progression that preceded the initial kick-in, Preston realized he was paying rapt attention to his playing. As they all blasted in when the first stanza came around, Skye hit the rapid-fire bass notes and Gitta launched the frantic thrum that drove the epic song about a wild and sexy punk who had enchanted everyone in the scene, despite the fact she had more red flags than a Chinese military parade.
\n     Trieste was a decent, amateur singer, in that her vocal enthusiasm helped make up for her lack of singing talent. She sang the first stanza while looking around the floor. By the second stanza she was looking out into the sparse pre-show crowd. Her friends were jumping up and down, and Miranda helped start a small pit with the rest of The Dynamite Chicks and The Jolly Sturms, along with a few roadies and club personnel joining in on the small circle mosh.
\n     Trieste started jumping up and down as she belted out the rest of the lyrics, contorting her body as she sang, getting into the song, which animated her in a way Preston had not thought possible.
\n     He surprised himself when he was forced to hold back a tear as his skin became hot and cold.
\n     Skye made her way across the stage, still furiously plucking out the frantic bass line. When the song was over Trieste got a rousing round of applause
\n     Skye stood in front of Preston, deliberately blocking him from view of the small crowd.
\n     \u201cYou need to take a break?\u201d
\n     Preston gripped his guitar and shook his head. \u201cI\u2019ll be all right.\u201d
\n     \u201cHang on\u2026\u201d
\n     Skye took the mic from Trieste, giving her a quick hug before she skittered back to her group, giddy about her performance.
\n     Preston kept looking down at his guitar as he tried to sort himself.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Circus Tent is available on Kindle and KU<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/needlepictures.com\/tbd\/book\/circus-tent-book-seven-of-the-skye-wright-series\/<\/a><\/p>\n

You can find the entire Skye Wright series below.
Just click on the pic for the series!<\/strong><\/p>\n


\n
\n<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/needlepictures.com\/tbd\/book-series\/skye-wright-series\/<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/center><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Circus Tent is a series of short stories and rock and roll vignettes about Skye Wright’s band The Dynamite Chicks going on a cross-country tour. Preston runs into his daughter as the tour goes through Texas, the seventeen year old daughter that he did not know that he had until a few months prior. Offspring …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4020","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nOffspring - An excerpt from my novel Circus Tent - Terminal Berkeley Denizen<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/needlepictures.com\/tbd\/2026\/10\/25\/offspring\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Offspring - An excerpt from my novel Circus Tent - Terminal Berkeley Denizen\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Circus Tent is a series of short stories and rock and roll vignettes about Skye Wright’s band The Dynamite Chicks going on a cross-country tour. Preston runs into his daughter as the tour goes through Texas, the seventeen year old daughter that he did not know that he had until a few months prior. 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