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good to see you, Rose. You look great."

He pulled back and drank in the house and the

grounds.

"Wow!" he said. "A lot different from where

you were last. huh?"

"A lot different in a lot of ways. C'mon," I said,

grabbing his hand and leading him up the stairs and

into the house. Of course, he was impressed with the

size of the rooms and the elegant rich furnishings, the

art and the statues. I quickly explained that my mother

had gone to Atlanta with Charlotte.

"But I want you to meet Charlotte's nephew," I

said. "before we go out to dinner."

I had told him about Evan's handicap. but I had

emphasized how intelligent he was and how expert on

the computer. When we went down to his room, the

door was still shut tight. I knocked, waited, and c

alled

to him.

"Evan. Barry would like to meet you." He didn't respond.

"Maybe you shouldn't push it," Barry suggested

softly.

I knocked again and waited.

"He's still asleep, I guess." I said. Barry nodded.

I glanced back at the shut door, disappointed. Barry had done his research of the area and

knew where to go for dinner. Once we got to the

restaurant and sat at our table. I never stopped talking.

He listened attentively, nodding and smiling

occasionally. When I realized I had barely begun to

eat. I stopped talking and he laughed.