第19部分(第4/7 頁)

had　years　of　Mystery　Pissers；　with　no　one　quite　neutralizing　what　had　been　tagged。

Down　the　hall　was　a　small　person　hunched　in　a　wheel…chair。　At　first　I　thought　it　was　a　child；

but　as　we　approached；　I　could　see　it　was　a　woman。

She　had　almost　no　hair；　and　as　she　gave　my　dad　a　toothless　smile；　she　grabbed　his　hand

and　spoke。

My　heart　bottomed　out。　The　sounds　she　made　were　choked　and　lost　on　her　tongue。　Nothing

she　said　was　intelligible；　yet　she　looked　at　my　father

with　such　intensity—like　of　course　he　understood　what　she　was　saying。

To　my　plete　surprise；　he　said；　“You're　absolutely　right；　Mabel。　It　is　today。　Which　is　why

I'm　here。”　He　held　up　the　grocery　sack　and　whispered；

“I've　brought　him　a　little　gift。”

“Gwa…aaal；”　she　said。　“How'd　you　know？”

She　gurgled　at　him　until　he　patted　her　hand　and　said；　“I'm　much　too　predictable；　I'm　afraid。

But　he　enjoys　them；　and…”　He　noticed　her　gaze　shift

in　my　direction。

“Hoo　haa；”　she　said。

“This　is　my　daughter；　Julianna。　Julianna；　I'd　like　you　to　meet　the　extraordinary　Miss　Mabel。

She　can　remember　everyone's　birthday；　and　she　has　a

real　passion　for　strawberry　milkshakes。”

I　managed　a　smile　and　whispered；　“Nice　to　meet　you；”　but　all　I　got　in　return　was　a　suspicious

scowl。

“Well；　we're　off　to　David's；”　my　father　said；　then　shook　the　bag。　“Don't　spill　the　beans　if　he

happens　by。”

I　followed　him　to　a　bedroom　doorway；　where　he　stopped　and　called；　“David？　David；　it's

Robert。”

A　man　appeared　at　the　door。　A　man　I　would　never　have　picked　out　as　my　father's　brother。　He

was　stocky；　with　thick　brown　glasses；　and　his　face

looked　puffy　and　pale。　But　he　threw