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"I wish on the stars like Daddy says instead," I said.

Noble looked angry but frustrated. "I don't care."

Daddy laughed. "What did you wish for today?"

Noble pressed his lips together and folded his arms tightly around himself.

"You don't have to tell" Daddy said, running his fingers through Noble's wild hair.

He looked up at Daddy and then looked at me. "I don't have any good friends. I wished Celeste was a boy."

I fell asleep envisioning a rock falling forever down the wishing well.

When it hit bottom, I woke with a start. I felt someone's presence and sat up to see Baby Celeste standing in my doorway with her doll in her arms.

"Celeste, what are you doing up?"

I swung my feet around to get out of bed.

"Woke me," she said.

I paused and smiled at her. then knelt down to look into her face. "Who woke you?" She nodded out the doorway. Was Mama home?

"Mama?"

She shook her head.

"Then who woke you. Celeste?"

"Daddy," she said, and ran back to her room.

Like a person frozen in a chunk of ice I rose and heard the air crackle around me.

Then I followed her and watched her put her doll back in its little bed. "Daddy woke you?" I asked her.

She smiled at me.

"Where's Daddy?"

She went to the window. I followed and looked out with her. I saw no one. "You see Daddy, Celeste?"

She shook her head and raised her arms. "Gone."

I looked out again. Did she mean my daddy or did she mean Elliot? Deep in my heart I understood that it wouldn't be long before I knew.

6

Thanksgiving

.

Mama didn't return until late in the afternoon.

She called in the morning to say she was on her way back, but they might stop for lunch, and if they did, she would do some shopping.

You need some new things to wear. Noble. I expect you will be getting out and about soon and I want you to look good," she added.

What did she mean by out and about? Out and about where and for what purpose? Wondering about it made me nervous all day. I kept Baby Celeste occupied with games and reading, and then for lunch we pretended to have a picnic on the living room floor. I set out a blanket and played the radio. It was something we had done and she loved.