第19部分(第4/8 頁)

ianna。　Julianna；　meet　Josie

………　Page　58………

Gruenmakker。”

“Well　now；　isn't　this　nice；”　Josie　said；　clasping　my　hand。　“I　recognize　you　from　David's　photo

album。　You're　gettin'　ready　to　graduate　into　high

school；　isn't　that　right？”

I　blinked　at　her；　then　looked　at　my　dad。　I'd　never　really　thought　of　it　that　way；　but　I　could　see

that　he　had。　“Yes；　I　…I　suppose　I　am。”

“Josie's　the　site　administrator。”

“And；”　Josie　added　with　a　laugh；　“I'm　not　graduatin'　to　nowhere！　Been　here　seventeen　years；

and　I'm　staying　put。”　The　phone　rang　and　she　hurried

off；　saying；　“Gotta　get　that。　I'll　meet　up　with　you　in　a　bit。　Check　the　rec　room；　then　his　room。

You'll　find　him。”

My　dad　led　me　around　a　corner；　and　as　we　proceeded　down　a　hallway；　the　underlying

pungent　part　of　the　smell　got　stronger。　Like　the　place　had

had　years　of　Mystery　Pissers；　with　no　one　quite　neutralizing　what　had　been　tagged。

Down　the　hall　was　a　small　person　hunched　in　a　wheel…chair。　At　first　I　thought　it　was　a　child；

but　as　we　approached；　I　could　see　it　was　a　woman。

She　had　almost　no　hair；　and　as　she　gave　my　dad　a　toothless　smile；　she　grabbed　his　hand

and　spoke。

My　heart　bottomed　out。　The　sounds　she　made　were　choked　and　lost　on　her　tongue。　Nothing

she　said　was　intelligible；　yet　she　looked　at　my　father

with　such　intensity—like　of　course　he　understood　what　she　was　saying。

T