第16部分(第6/7 页)

Someone　who's　never　been　able　to　look　beneath　the　surface。　At　this　point　I　don't　suppose　I

even　want　her　to。”

………　Page　50………

Who　was　he　talking　about？　I　wanted　to　know！　But　I　felt　it　would　be　crossing　some　line　to　ask；

so　we　painted　pickets　in　silence。　At　last　he　turned　to

me　and　said；　“Get　beyond　his　eyes　and　his　smile　and　the　sheen　of　his　hair—look　at　what's

really　there。”

The　way　he　said　it　sent　a　chill　through　me。　It　was　as　though　he　knew。　And　suddenly　I　felt

defensive。　Was　he　telling　me　his　grandson　wasn't　worth

it？

When　it　was　time　to　go　in　for　dinner；　I　still　didn't　feel　right；　but　at　least　the　tornado　was　gone。

Mom　said　Dad　was　working　late；　and　since　the　boys

were　off　with　their　friends；　it　was　just　the　two　of　us。　She　told　me　that　she　and　Dad　had　talked

about　it　and　that　they　both　felt　a　little　strange　having

Chet　e　over　like　he　was。　Maybe；　she　said；　they　should　find　a　way　to　pay　him　for　his　help。

I　told　her　I　thought　Chet　would　find　that　insulting；　but　the　next　day　she　went　ahead　and

insulted　him　anyway。　Chet　said；　“No；　Mrs。　Baker。　It's　been

my　pleasure　to　help　out　your　daughter　on　this　project；”　and　wouldn't　hear　another　word　about

it。

The　week　ended　with　my　dad　loading　the　back　of　his　truck　with　all　the　clippings　and　scraps

before　he　set　off　for　work　on　Saturday　morning。　Then

Chet　and　I　spent　the　rest　of　the　day　hoeing　up　weeds　and　raking　and　readying　the　dirt　for

seeding。

It　was　on　this　last　day　that　Chet　asked；　“Your　family's　not　moving；　are　you？”

“Moving？　Why　do　you　say　that？”

“Oh；　my　daughter　brought　up　the　possibility　at　the　dinner　table　last　night。　She　thought　that

maybe　yo