Page 103 (1/2)

“Only what everyone knows, I suppose,” Frangie says

“Mother hasn’t ever” He lets it hang

Frangie has a squir of discomfort “She doesn’t talk to me about it I know she was there at the ti his sister”

Harder has stood all through his long, fervent political survey, but now he sits on aso he’s at eye level with her “Haven’t you ever wondered about it?”

“I’ve wondered, butshe’s always seemed like she didn’t want to talk about it”

“I’m not surprised She had a very bad tih the years I fought many a schoolyard skirmish because of it”

“Butbut because of what?”

“My God, you really don’t know”

“I don’tI don’t even knohat you’re talking about”

His face is serious now, griaze meets hers and won’t release her, and the back of her neck tingles

“Have you never wondered why I look like this?” he asks, al

“Look like what?”

“My skin My nose My hair My eyes”

She stares at hi spreads from the nape of her neck down over her shoulders and up her cheeks

“Good lord, little Frangie, my sweet sister Do I look like Father? Do I look even a little bit like Father?”