第14部分(第3/7 頁)

at　I　wanted　to　do　was　go　to　my　room；　lock　the　door；　and　be　left　alone。

“I　find　it　really　helps　to　clear　the　mind；”　he　said；　and　that's　when　I　realized　that　this　wasn't　just

a　walk　—　this　was　an　invitation　to　do　something

together。

I　stood　up　and　said；　“Yeah。　Let's　get　out　of　here。”

For　a　guy　who'd　only　basically　ever　said　Pass　the　salt　to　me；　my　granddad　turned　out　to　be　a

real　talker。　We　walked　our　neighborhood　and　the

next　neighborhood　and　the　next　neighborhood；　and　not　only　did　I　find　out　that　my　granddad

knows　a　lot　of　stuff；　I　found　out　that　the　guy　is　funny。　In　a

subtle　kind　of　dry　way。　It's　the　stuff　he　says；　plus　the　way　he　says　it。　It's　really；　I　don't　know；

cool。

As　we　were　winding　back　into　our　own　territory；　we　passed　by　the　house　that's　going　up

where　the　sycamore　tree　used　to　be。　My　granddad

stopped；　looked　up　into　the　night；　and　said；　“It　must've　been　a　spectacular　view。”

I　looked　up；　too；　and　noticed　for　the　first　time　that　night　that　you　could　see　the　stars。　“Did　you

ever　see　her　up　there？”　I　asked　him。

“Your　mother　pointed　her　out　to　me　one　time　as　we　drove　by。　It　scared　me　to　see　her　up　so

high；　but　after　I　read　the　article　I　understood　why　she

did　it。”　He　shook　his　head。　“The　tree's　gone；　but　she's　still　got　the　spark　it　gave　her。　Know

what　I　mean？”

Luckily　I　didn't　have　to　answer。　He　just　grinned　and　said；　“Some　of　us　get　dipped　in　flat；　some

in　satin；　some　in　gloss…。”　He　turned　to　me。　“But

………　Page　43………

every　once　in　a　while　you　find　someone　who's　iridescent；　and　when　you　do；　nothing　will　ever

pare。”

As　we　walked　up　to　our　front　porch；　my　grandfather　put　his　arm　around　my　sho