Page 77 (1/2)

"I couldn't sleep and finally gave up trying," he said "What's wrong?"

He didn't answer for a very long moment

"Is Aunt Glenda all right?"

"No" he said sullenly "Why?"

I expected hi, but he didn't

"You don't re at me

"Today?" I thought "Oh," I finally said when I realized "I'ot"

It was the day Latisha had died, Maybe I didn't want to rehter's death Aunt Glenda dressed in black and draped a funereal atmosphere over herself and anyone who came within a hundred yards of her

"I wish I could forget too" Harley replied sharply through clenched teeth "Maybe I should rip out this page on the calendar and bury it sorandmother buried your bad memory I doubt I could do it" he said and looked away as he continued

"I was alht years old when she died but I still had trouble understanding what death was Latisha was often sick I re in the hospital a lot, but death was still so that happened only to old people I think for days and days afterward I kept expecting Roy andher home'"

He laughed

"I guess I thought if young people died, they died for only a little while For the more than just another illness that they would !et over The doctor would make her better

"My rave I rehtened, all alone in the dark

"He didn't haveso foolish

"Then she turned to her religion because itShe was in heaven with angels, so she wasn't alone and wasn't afraid According totodown here on earth