Page 29

In the kitchen Nancy Sue was preparing lunch for me and for Evan.

Instead of asking me what I liked, she was going to set out a variety of luncheon meats, breads, and cheeses. It seemed like wasted effort and even wasted food, but when I commented about it, she told me it was what Mrs. Curtis ordered. From the tone of Nancy Sue's voice. I understood that when Charlotte spoke, it was gospel.

The pale blue sky had become more vibrantly blue with every passing hour, and the thin veil of clouds had drifted west. We were having another one of those unusually warm days for this time of the year. I strolled along the same path I had followed with Evan the day before until, this time. I reached an oak tree. I was drawn to the trunk when I spotted what looked like carving. It turned out to be Evan's initials and what I guessed were his mother's initials. I really hadn't thought much about his relationship with his mother and how deeply he must have suffered her loss. He had said so little about her yesterday. Were they close? How did she treat him? What had she told him about Daddy? I probably had as many questions for him as he had for me.

When I turned to start back to the house, I saw him out on the patio watching me.

"I've got to get fresh air as soon as my tutor leaves." he explained when I approached. "I actually tried spraying some of my mother's old perfume around the room before she comes, but it doesn't seem powerful enough to overcome the stink."

I laughed.

"Why don't you just tell her?"

"So she goes complaining about me to my aunt Charlotte? No thanks. I'm tired of hearing how ungrateful I can be. I see you were looking at my tree. It was planted just about the time I was born."

"Then those are definitely your initials?"

"And my mother's. She used to bring me out there for a picnic. She'd set out a blanket and play the radio or her CDs and we'd look at the clouds and describe what they suggested to us. Often, we both fell asleep. Aunt Charlotte said we brought ants back into the house in our clothing or in the blanket."

"What would your mother say to that?"

"Nothing really. She had a way of just looking at her and smiling a smile that said, 'Don't be silly. Charlotte.' It was enough to shut her up."

"I imagine you miss her a great deal."

He stared at me a moment, his eyes glassing over.

"As much as you miss our daddy, if not more," he finally said. "Did you bring the magic box?'

"Yes,'" I replied, smiling.

"Good. Put this in it for me," he said and held out his hand with a slip of paper between his thumb and forefinger. I took it.

"What is it?'

"A disappointment," he replied.

"Can I look?"

"You probably would anyway."

"I would not. It's your personal disappointment. I'm not the sort of person who..."

"Okay, okay. Look already and spare me the speeches." I unfolded it and read the word. Arlene. "Arlene? That's your disappointment?" He shrugged.

"She was my cyber girlfriend until late yesterday, when she decided to break up and go into a private chat room with someone else."

I shook my head, a confused smile on my face.

"It's how I go out on a date," he explained. "We talk to each other in a private chat room. She and I got along really well and had some good times. I guess I wasn't sexy enough."

"Sexy enough? How can you be sexy on the computer?"

He smiled.

"You'll see. One of these days."

"Lunch," Nancy Sue announced from the doorway.