第20部分(第3/8 頁)

　into　the　truck；　my　dad　clicked　on　his　seat　belt　and　said；　“So。”

I　just　looked　at　him　and　tried　to　smile。

“Are　you　as　exhausted　as　I　am？”　he　said。

I　nodded。　“Everything　was　fine—except　for　the　ice　cream。”

Dad　chuckled。　“Except　for　the　ice　cream。”　Then　he　turned　serious。　“The　trouble　is；　you　never

know　what　‘the　ice　cream’　is　going　to　be。

Sometimes　it's　a　fly　in　the　room。　Sometimes　it's　the　feel　of　his　socks。　It's　hard　to　predict

everything。　Usually　getting　ice　cream　is　safe。”　He　shook　his

head　and　closed　his　eyes；　thinking　things　I　couldn't　imagine。　Finally　he　turned　the　ignition

and　said；　“David　lived　with　your　mother　and　me　for　a　while。

Before　you　kids　were　born。　We　thought　it　would　be　better　for　him　to　live　with　us　than　to　be　in

a　home；　but　we　were　wrong。”

“But　overall；　everything　went　okay　today…。”

He　ground　the　gearshift　into　reverse。　“David　has　many；　many　special　needs；　both　emotional

and　physical。　Your　mom　and　I　couldn't　handle　them

all。　Fortunately　he's　happy　here。　They　have　programs　to　teach　him　how　to　care　for　himself—

how　to　dress　and　bathe　and　brush　his　teeth；　how　to　act

around　others　and　municate。　They　go　on　outings；　and　he　has　a　job　doing　mailings　for　a

doctor's　office…。”

“He　does？”

………　Page　61………

“He　goes　there　every　morning　during　the　week　to　fold　mailings　and　fill　envelopes。

Greenhaven's　been　so　good　for　him