第19部分(第1/7 頁)

“No；　I　…”　He　studied　me　for　a　moment；　then　said；　“I'm　going　to　visit　David。”

“Uncle　David？”

He　walked　toward　his　truck；　saying；　“That's　right。　I　…I　should　be　back　around　noon。”

“But　Dad；　why　today？　It's　Sunday。”

“I　know；　sweetheart；　but　it's　a　special　Sunday。”

I　turned　off　the　spigot。　“Why's　that？”

“It's　his　fortieth　birthday。　I　want　to　see　him　and　deliver　a　gift；”　he　said　as　he　held　up　the　paper

bag。　“Don't　worry。　I'll　rustle　us　up　some　pancakes　for

lunch；　all　right？”

“I'm　ing　with　you；”　I　said；　and　tossed　the　hose　aside。　I　wasn't　even　really　dressed—I'd

just　pulled　on　some　sweats　and　sneakers；　no　socks—

………　Page　57………

but　in　my　mind　there　was　no　doubt。　I　was　going。

“Why　don't　you　stay　home　and　enjoy　the　morning　with　your　mother？　I'm　sure　she　would—”

I　went　over　to　the　passenger　side　of　his　truck　and　said；　“I'm　ing；”　then　climbed　inside　and

slammed　the　door　back　in　place。

“But—”　he　said　through　the　driver's　door。

“I'm　ing；　Dad。”

He　studied　me　a　moment；　then　said；　“Okay；”　and　put　the　bag　on　the　bench　seat。　“Let　me

leave　a　note　for　your　mother。”

While　he　was　inside；　I　strapped　on　the　lap　belt　and　told　myself　that　this　was　good。　This　was

something　I　should've　done　years　ago。　Uncle　David

was　part　of　the　family；　part　of　my　father；　part　of　me。　It　was　about　time　I　got　to　know　him。

I　studied　the　paper　sack　sitting　next　to　me。　What　was　my　father　bringing　his　brother　for　his

fortieth　birthday？

I　picked　it　up。　It　wasn't　a　painting—it　was　much　too　light　for　that。　Plus；　it　made　a　strange；

muted　rattling　noise　when　I　shook　it。

I　was　just　unrolling　the　top　to　peek　inside　when　my　father　came　bac