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kept reciting phrases from the Bible. It gave me the

creeps the way he turned his head when he spoke, as

if some invisible person was there beside him." "It's troublesome. Very troublesome. Isaac,"

Mommy emphasized.

"I'll try to talk to him some more and get him

calmed down." Daddy promised. He should be back

soon."

"I haven't seen Uncle Simon this morning

either," I said.

"Oh. Simon's still quite under the weather

today. Honey. He's been developing a bad chest cold

and I told him to make sure he rests himself well,"

Daddy said.

"Did he have his breakfast?"

"I brought him some hot oatmeal before we left

for church," Mommy said. "Well, I guess I'll go

change into something more ordinary."

"Me, too," Daddy said.

I looked at the barn. It was so rare for Uncle

Simon to be under the weather and incapacitated. I

thought he was invincible. If he was sick enough to

stay in his claustrophobic room, it had to be serious. "Maybe Uncle Simon should see a doctor and

have some medicine," I said.

"You know how he is about that," Mommy

replied. "I'll make him some chicken soup for lunch." She and Daddy went inside. I stood there

thinking awhile and then I went in and fetched my

violin and the box of music Chandler had bought for

me.

"I'm going over to see Uncle Simon." I shouted

to Mommy and Daddy, who were still changing