第20部分(第3/7 页)

't　imagine。　Finally　he　turned　the　ignition

and　said；　“David　lived　with　your　mother　and　me　for　a　while。

Before　you　kids　were　born。　We　thought　it　would　be　better　for　him　to　live　with　us　than　to　be　in

a　home；　but　we　were　wrong。”

“But　overall；　everything　went　okay　today…。”

He　ground　the　gearshift　into　reverse。　“David　has　many；　many　special　needs；　both　emotional

and　physical。　Your　mom　and　I　couldn't　handle　them

all。　Fortunately　he's　happy　here。　They　have　programs　to　teach　him　how　to　care　for　himself—

how　to　dress　and　bathe　and　brush　his　teeth；　how　to　act

around　others　and　municate。　They　go　on　outings；　and　he　has　a　job　doing　mailings　for　a

doctor's　office…。”

“He　does？”

………　Page　61………

“He　goes　there　every　morning　during　the　week　to　fold　mailings　and　fill　envelopes。

Greenhaven's　been　so　good　for　him。　He　gets　an　incredible

amount　of　individualized　attention。　He　has　his　own　room；　his　own　friends；　his　own　life。”

After　a　minute　I　said；　“But　he's　part　of　the　family；　Dad。　And　it　just　doesn't　seem　right　that　he's

never　been　over　for　a　visit。　Not　even　on　Christmas　or

Thanksgiving！”

“He　doesn't　want　to；　sweetheart。　One　year　your　mother　and　I　insisted　he　spend　Thanksgiving

with　us；　and　it　was　the　biggest　disaster　you　can

imagine。　He　broke　a　window　out　of　the　car；　he　was　that　upset。”

“But　…　why　haven't　we　been　visiting　him？　I　know　you　have；　but　the　rest　of　us。　Why　not？”

“Well；　it's　draining。　Your　mother　finds　it　incredibly　depressing；　and　I　understand　that。　We　both

agreed　that　it　was　no　place　to　take　small　children。”

He　accelerated　onto　the　highway；　silent　behind　the　wheel。　Finally　he　said；　“The　years　just

see