Page 76 (1/2)

I felt sick, ready to throw up Ready to cry out and run and do so wild and painful to myself, like Bart did when he was hurt and disturbed Bart-- for the first ti what it was to be like Bart I stood on unsteady ground, afraid everything ht crumble if I dared to move

Through e, years and years of age difference, and Dad wasn't that much older than Mom, only two years and a few months She was born in April, he was born in Noveround, they spoke without even saying a word, just a glance and they understood

Mada upon me--or Morim-thin lips She pursed her lips and reached into soarettes "Now," she said as if to herself, seeave as an excuse the last ti distance, explaining Chris would come with her because Paul was too ill with his heart trouble to travel She was leaving hiht that odd at the time, that she'd leave him when he needed a nurse, and travel with Chris" She bit down on her lower lip, chewed it unconsciously "And last suraves and ole ladies--and I suspect, ain because Bart has driven a rusty nail into his knee and develops blood-poisoning or so similar Daht to for playing around so soon after my son's death And Paul has heart trouble, on and on he has heart trouble, yet he never has a fatal attack Every suives me that same worn excuse Paul can't travel because of his heart--but Chris, he can always travel, heart or no heart"

Abruptly she stopped talking, for I had moved to leave I tried tosuspicions I didn't want her to see Never had I felther sche I knew

At that ility "Put on your coat I' chat with your mother"

The Terrible Truth

"Jory," began Mada homeward "Your parents don't confide in you much about their past, do they?"

"They tell us enough," I said stiffly, resenting the way she kept prying, when it didn't ood listeners, and everyone says they make the best kind of conversationlists"

She snorted "Being a good listener is the perfect way to avoid answering questions you'd rather ignore"

"Now you look here, Grandmother My parents like their privacy They have asked both Bart and me not to talk about our hoood sense for a faether"

"Really?"

"Yes!" I shouted, "I like my privacy too!"

"You are of an age to need privacy; they are not" "Madame, my mother was a celebrity of sorts, and Dad is a doctor, and Mom has been married three times I don't think she wants her former sister-in-law, Amanda, to knohere we live"

"Why not?"

"My aunt Amanda is not a very nice person, that's all"