第40部分(第5/7 頁)

　they’d　seen　each　other　at　parties　and　always　said　hello。　She　felt　like　she　owed　it　to　him—and　to　herself—to　at　least　see　the　movie。　She　was　curious　to　see　how　the　story；　which　had　started　out　as　her　life　story　and　quickly　became　the　furthest　thing　from　it；　would　end。

She　flung　open　the　apartment　door　and　came　face…to…face　with　a　man　wearing　a　brown　uniform；　an　envelope　in　his　hand。　“Looking　for　a　Vanessa　Abrams？　You’re　my　last　delivery。　Glad　you’re　here；”　he　said。　Vanessa　nodded　in　confusion。

“Here　you　go。”　He　thrust　a　thin　envelope　at　her。　Vanessa　took　it　with　trembling　hands。　Suddenly；　she　realized　exactly　what　she　was　holding。　Back　in　November；　she’d　applied　for　a　two…year　film　fellowship　in　Indonesia。　She　hadn’t　realized　they’d　be　mailing　decisions　so　soon。

“Thanks。”　She　wasn’t　sure　if　she　should　open　it　right　away　or　wait。　But　what　was　she　waiting　for？　And　would　they　really　UPS　a　rejection？

“Can　you　sign？”　the　deliveryman　asked　impatiently；　oblivious　to　Vanessa’s　internal　turmoil。

“Oh；　sure。”　Vanessa　hastily　scrawled　a　signature　and　yanked　the　envelope　open。

“Happy　holidays；”　the　delivery　guy　said　as　he　turned　away。　But　Vanessa　wasn’t　listening。　She　pulled　a　packet　of　papers　from　the　envelope。　A　single　sheet　fell　out　and　fluttered　to　the　hardwood　floor。　Vanessa　grabbed　it；　noting　the　purple　Filmmakers　for　Change　crest　at　the　top　of　the　page　and　read　the　first　sentence：　Dear　Ms。　Abrams；　We　are　pleased　to　offer　you　a　Filmmaker　for　Change　grant　for　your　proposed　project　in　Indonesia。…

The　rest　of　the　sentences　swam　together　on　the　page　as　Vanessa　shrieked　in　excitement。　A　Filmmaker　for　Change　grant　was　notoriously　hard　to　get；　which　was　why　she’d　practically　forgotten　about　sending　in　the　application。　She　hadn’t　wanted