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Rather than fill me with joy, these words sent tiny electric shocks of fear along my spine What did Celine see in me that I couldn't see in myself, that no one had ever seen before? What if it was all untrue?

"How come you don't have any children of your own?" I asked

For a few ht perhaps he hadn't heard hed The gri to his face

"I wanted to have children Fro a family, but Celine was too devoted to her career, and she believed giving birth would take away from her power as a dancer

"Anyway," he said, continuing to walk toward the hill, "she would be the first to admit she didn't have the temperament for children in those days" He shook his head "You would have had to look far and wide to find someone as moody I felt like an inept weatherlooht, and happy, and the next, because of some dissatisfaction with her rehearsal, she would beco I did could cheer her But," he said, s to change There'll be no more dark days"

How could I s? Would watchingable to dance herself? Hoas I to be responsible for Celine's happiness? I was too small and too shy I'd never be able to do it

"I used to feel like alking barefoot on shattered glass when I returned home from business every day," Sanford continued and his voice interruptedto him, to hear him open his heart to me as if I was already part of his fahts and desires he confided in me were pleasant ones, but the more Sanford spoke the more I realized how sad and bitter he was "Celine's moods were totally unpredictable, and after the accident they got worse Now, that's all going to be different," he e not to say anything else gloomy

We stopped at the top of the hill and looked out at the lake It shi smooth as ice There was a dock just beloith the rowboat he had described

"The lake's not that big, only about a half a mile or so, but it's nice to have water on your property And the geese--who visit every year are quite a sight toward the end of the summer You'll see," he said I was happy to hear hi time

"It's pretty," I said I was thankful he'd changed the subject

"Yes, it is" He thought aabout us so iven you a chance to talk about yourself What are the things you like to do? Did you ever ice-skate or roller-skate?" he asked

I shook my head

"I' Do you play any sports?"

"I only play sports in school I usually don't play at the orphanage"

"What about books? Do you like to read?" "Yes"