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"Are you sure Tyler is happy with this new arrangement, Alice?" she asked almost as soon as we started away. "That's not a very big house. You're probably stumbling over each other, and I'm sure they

value their privacy."

"He seems very happy about it," I said. "They

have their privacy, Grandma. I'm downstairs, and now

I'll have the studio and be in their way even less." "Besides, she'll make new friends and get into

some new activities here," my grandfather said.

"She'll have plenty to do outside of the house." New friends? I thought. I didn't have any old

ones.

"Zipporah and Tyler are very involved in that

cafe of theirs. They're not going to be able to devote

all that much time to you, Alice," my grandmother

warned.

"I don't need a babysitter, Grandma. I'm nearly

seventeen."

"She's right, Elaine. Stop bugging her." "Are you feeling all right?" she asked me,

ignoring him as usual. "No pains? No headaches?" "I'm fine," I said. "If anything bothers me,

you'll be the first to know."

Dissatisfied with my answers but unable to

shake me out of my determination to remain, she

settled back and finally relaxed. We had a great lunch together. I couldn't help looking to the door every time someone entered, as usual half expecting, and hoping, to see Duncan come in, especially today, so he could see and meet my grandparents, but he didn't come. At one point, Missy paused to whisper in my

ear.

"Where's Mr. Weirdo these days? You give him

his walking papers?"

"I don't know," I said. "Lucky you," she replied,

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smiling.

Why did people take such pleasure in the

unhappiness of others? I wondered. Was it simply

because it wasn't their unhappiness, or were we all

sadists deep down inside? Or could it be jealousy,