第20部分(第2/7 页)

avid　placed　the　pinwheel　on　his　bed　and　picked　up　the　puzzle　box。　“Why

don't　you　take　a　rest　before　you　get　started　on　it？”

my　dad　asked。

David　shook　his　head。　“Naaow。”

“Okay；　then。　Let　me　help　you　set　it　up。”

My　father　pulled　a　card　table　from　beneath　the　bed；　then　swung　the　legs　out　and　snapped

them　into　place。　After　he　had　it　shoved　up　against　the

wall　near　the　bed；　he　moved　a　chair　close　to　it　and　said；　“There　you　are。　All　set　up。”

David　had　the　box　open　and　was　already　sifting　through　the　pieces。　“Aaaas　a　gou　one；

Wobbad。”

“I'm　glad　you　like　it。　You　think　you　might　have　it　done　by　Wednesday？　I　can　e　back　and

glue　it　on　the　ceiling　for　you　then　if　you'd　like。”

David　nodded；　but　he　was　already　intent　on　the　puzzle；　carefully　laying　pieces　on　the　table。

My　father　put　his　hand　on　his　shoulder　and　said；　“I'll

see　you　Wednesday　then；　okay？”

He　nodded。

“Will　you　say　good…bye　to　Julianna？”

“Baaawye；”　he　said；　but　he　didn't　look　up　from　his　box　of　pieces。

“See　you　later；　Uncle　David。”　I　tried　to　sound　cheerful；　but　I　didn't　feel　that　way。

When　we　got　back　into　the　truck；　my　dad　clicked　on　his　seat　belt　and　said；　“So。”

I　just　looked　at　him　and　tried　to　smile。

“Are　you　as　exhausted　as　I　am？”　he　said。

I　nodded。　“Everything　was　fine—except　for　the　ice　cream。”

Dad　chuckled。　“Except　for　the　ice　cream。”　Then　he　turned　serious。　“The　trouble　is；　you　never

know　what　‘the　ice　cream’　is　going　to　be。

Sometimes　it's　a　fly　in　the　room。　Sometimes　it's　the　feel　of　his　socks。　It's　hard　to　predict

everything。　Usually　getting　ice　cream　is　safe。”　He　shook　his

head　and　closed　his　eyes；　thinking　things　I　couldn