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falling below the tree line so that there were long,

deep and cool shadows on the lake. With a soft, but

continuous breeze it was truly refreshing.

"So," Harley said, "when you graduate what are

you going to do?"

"I think I want to continue with music, and if

I'm good enough, maybe someday work for an

orchestra and maybe perform at places like Lincoln

Center in New York, Ill try to get into a good music

college."

"You'll get into anywhere you want," he said. "Oh, are you trying to be Mr. Oak Tree now?" I

countered and he laughed. Then he put up the oars so

we would just drift. Sparrows and robins began to

appear, looking for dinner in the twilight.

Occasionally, one of the fish Uncle Roy called trained

bass came close to the surface as if it were expecting

bread crumbs.

Harley leaned over and looked at the floor of

the rowboat,

"When I was about twelve, I think, I suddenly

worried that you and I were really cousins." he began,

"For some reason it never occurred to me before." "Why would that worry you?"

"I was old enough to realize that if we were

cousins, we couldn't be boyfriend and girlfriend." "You never told me that.'

"I was too bashful. I'm still too bashful. I'm not

telling you now," he said still looking down. "I'm

telling the floor of the boat."

I laughed and leaned over to push his head so

he would look up. He did so slowly and our eyes fixed

on each other.