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yours? I wondered, and then I wondered if it was

selfish of me to think about such a thing. All my short

life. I had known only sharing with Noble. I suppose

nothing would seem right for me if it weren't that way

always.

It was a good day, I decided. I could hear

Mommy and Mr. Kotes below, their voices muffled, but occasionally their laughter louder. I struggled to keep my eyes open because I kept hoping Daddy would appear again. Why did he have to stand in a corner, and why did he go so quickly? I wondered. Again, it made me question whether or not I had really seen him. Mommy's explanation about his giving me something special made sense, and yet it surprised me that she couldn't see him. too. Maybe I had wanted to so much. I just imagined it. I thought

sadly.

My eyes closed and opened, closed and opened.

Vaguely. I thought I heard the sound of footsteps on

the stairway. I heard whispering, and then I heard

Mommy's bedroom door open and close. I tried to

stay awake to listen more, but sleep was like a heavy

black sheet being drawn over me. Try as much as I

wanted. I couldn't push it away.

At least not until I heard the sound of Mommy

screaming at someone. It came from downstairs, "What are you saying?' she was shouting.

"What are you saying?"

My eves snapped open. and I looked around,

surprised that it was still very dark. The clock said

two thirty-five. Why was Mommy talking to someone

on the phone this late? I gazed over at Noble, but he

was still, his back to me.

I rose slowly and went to the doorway.

Mommy's voice was shrill now, and she sounded like

she was crying and saying, "No, no, that can't be." Slowly, I emerged from the room and started

down the stairway. I heard her hang up the phone and

then go into the living room. I reached the bottom of

the stairway just as she started shouting again,

shouting. I first thought. at Mr. Kotes.