第19部分(第3/7 页)

　said；　“e　on　in。”

It　was　cool　inside。　And　it　smelled　of　pine　cleaner　and　bleach；　with　something　vaguely

pungent　underneath。

There　wasn't　a　reception　desk　or　waiting　area；　just　a　large　intersection　with　white　walls　and

narrow　wooden　benches。　To　the　left　was　a　big　room

with　a　television　and　several　rows　of　plastic　chairs；　to　the　right　were　open　office　doors；　and

beside　us　were　two　pine　armoires。　One　was　open；　with

half　a　dozen　gray　sweaters　hung　neatly　in　a　row。

“Good　morning；　Robert！”　a　woman　called　through　one　of　the　office　doors。

“Good　morning；　Josie；”　my　father　replied。

She　came　out　to　meet　us；　saying；　“David's　up　and　about。　Has　been　since　around　six。　Mabel

tells　me　it's　his　birthday　today。”

“Mabel　is　right　again。”　He　turned　to　me　and　smiled。　“Josie；　it's　my　pleasure　to　introduce　my

daughter；　Julianna。　Julianna；　meet　Josie

………　Page　58………

Gruenmakker。”

“Well　now；　isn't　this　nice；”　Josie　said；　clasping　my　hand。　“I　recognize　you　from　David's　photo

album。　You're　gettin'　ready　to　graduate　into　high

school；　isn't　that　right？”

I　blinked　at　her；　then　looked　at　my　dad。　I'd　never　really　thought　of　it　that　way；　but　I　could　see

that　he　had。　“Yes；　I　…I　suppose　I　am。”

“Josie's　the　site　administrator。”

“And；”　Josie　added　with　a　laugh；　“I'm　not　graduatin'　to　nowhere！　Been　here　seventeen　years；

and　I'm　staying　put。”　The　phone　rang　and　she　hurried

off；　saying；　“Gotta　get　that。　I'll　meet　up　with　you　in　a　bit。　Check　the　rec　room；　then　his　room。

You'll　find　him。”

My　dad　led　me　around　a　corner；　and　as　we　proceeded　down　a　hallway；　the　underlying

pungent　part　of　the　smell　got　stronger。　Like　the　place　had