第19部分(第2/8 頁)

o　me。　What　was　my　father　bringing　his　brother　for　his

fortieth　birthday？

I　picked　it　up。　It　wasn't　a　painting—it　was　much　too　light　for　that。　Plus；　it　made　a　strange；

muted　rattling　noise　when　I　shook　it。

I　was　just　unrolling　the　top　to　peek　inside　when　my　father　came　back　through　the　front　door。　I

dropped　the　sack　and　straightened　up；　and　when　he

slid　behind　the　wheel；　I　said；　“It's　okay　with　you；　isn't　it？”

He　just　looked　at　me；　his　hand　on　the　key　in　the　ignition。

“I　…　I'm　not　ruining　your　day　with　him　or　anything；　am　I？”

He　cranked　the　motor　and　said；　“No；　sweetheart。　I'm　glad　you're　ing。”

We　didn't　say　much　to　each　other　on　the　drive　over　to　Greenhaven。　He　seemed　to　want　to

look　at　the　scenery　and　I；　well；　I　had　a　lot　of　questions；

but　none　I　wanted　to　ask。　It　was　nice；　though；　riding　with　my　father。　It　was　like　the　silence

connected　us　in　a　way　that　explanations　never　could。

When　we　arrived　at　Greenhaven；　my　father　parked　the　truck；　but　we　didn't　get　out　right　away。

“It　takes　some　getting　used　to；　Julianna；　but　it　does

grow　on　you。　They　grow　on　you。　They're　all　good　people。”

I　nodded；　but　felt　oddly　afraid。

“e　on；　then；”　he　said；　taking　the　sack　from　the　seat。　“Let's　go　inside。”

Greenhaven　didn't　look　like　any　kind　of　hospital　to　me；　but　it　didn't　look　quite　like　a　house；

either。　It　was　too　long　and　rectangular　for　that。　The