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"I've thought about being a Rocket Man for a long time," I said,

He didn't hear ot ho so damned hard to stay here"

I re and doing and listening, and I knew that he did this to convince himself that the sea and the towns and the land and his fas But I knehere he would be tonight: looking at the jewelry in Orion from our front porch

"Promise me you won't be like me," he said

I hesitated awhile "Okay," I said

He shook my hand "Good boy," he said

The dinner was fine that night Moh and pots and pans tinkling, and now a great turkey fu, cranberry sauce, peas, and pumpkin pie

"In the ust?" said Dad, amazed

"You won't be here for Thanksgiving"

"So I won't"

He sniffed it He lifted each lid from each tureen and let the flavor steam over his sunburned face He said "Ah" to each He looked at the rooazed at the pictures on the wall, the chairs, the table, me, and Mom He cleared his throat I saw him make up his mind "Lilly?"

"Yes?" Mom looked across her table which she had set like a wonderful silver trap, abeast of the past caught in a tar pool, her husband h a jail of wishbones, safe forever Her eyes sparkled

"Lilly," said Dad

Go on, I thought crazily Say it, quick; say you'll stay hoo away; say it!

Just then a passing helicopter jarred the roolanced at the