第27部分(第3/7 頁)

？You　two　could　help；　you　know；？　Jenny　mented；　throwing　an　army　green　duffel　bag　in　the

trunk　and　wiping　the　droplets　of　sweat　from　her　eyes　with　the　back　of　her　hand。

Rufus　crossed　his　arms　over　his　chest。　？Why　do　you　think　we　had　you　two？　Free　labor！？　He　and

Jeanette　burst　into　peals　of　laughter。

？Oh；　Rufus；？　Jeanette　moaned；　posing　herself；　a　note　of　sadness　creeping　into　her

voice。　？Our　baby？s　all　grown　up！？　She　flew　at　Dan；　the　sleeves　of　her　kimono　flapping　in　the

breeze　like　wings；　and　Dan　opened　his　arms；　resting　his　head　against　his　mother？s　shoulder。

Looking　around；　Dan　realized　that　this　would　be　the　last　time　that　his　family　would　be　all

together？for　God　knew　how　long。　He　was　off　to　college　today；　and　tonight　his　mom　was　flying

back　to　Prague　and　her　boyfriend；　Count　Dracula。　Tears　welled　up　in　his　eyes　and　he　blinked　them

back。　His　mom　patted　him　on　the　back　like　she　was　trying　to　burp　him。　？Sweetie；？　she　whispered

in　his　ear；　？I　know　you　and　Vanessa　are　back　together；　and　I　just　wanted　to　let　you　know　that　it？s

okay？I　still　love　you；　even　though　you？re　straight；？　she　sniffed。　？You？re　my　baby　boy；　and　I　just

want　you　to　be　happy。？　Dan　just　shook　his　head。　Why　his　mother　wanted　a　gay　son　so　badly　was

beyond　him。　But　if　his　brief　venture　into　homosexuality　had　finally　brought　her　back　to　visit；　he

couldn？t　really　plain。

？It？s　okay；　Mom；？　he　said　between　thumps　on　his　back。　？Just　remember　next　time　you　send　a　gift

that　I？m　a　men？s　medium；　not　a　kids？　size　four；　and　I？m　sort　of　not　into　pink　spandex　anymore。？

？Well；　Dan。？　Rufus　appeared　at　Dan？s　side　smelling　like　curry　and　enveloped　his　son　in　a　huge；

hulking　bear　hug。　？It