И проиграли бой

           Iguessshewaspraying.ShewasaCatholic,butmyfatherhatedchurches.Everylittlewhilehe’dgrowloutwhathe’ddotoMaywhenshedidcomehome.

           "Abouteleveno’clockbothof’emwentintothebedroom,buttheyleftthelightburninginthekitchen.Icouldhearthemtalkingforalongtime.TwoorthreetimesinthenightIwokeupandsawmymotherlookingoutfromthebedroom.Hereyeslookedjustlikewhitestones."

           Jimturnedfromthewindowandsatdownonthecot.Harrywasdigginghispencilintothedesktop.Jimsaid,"WhenIwokeupthenextmorningitwassunshinyoutside,andthatlightwasstillburning.Itgivesyouafunny,lonelyfeelingtoseealightburninginthedaytime.Prettysoonmymothercameoutofthebedroomandstartedafireinthestove.Herfacewasstiff,andhereyesdidn’tmovemuch.Thenmyfathercameout.Heactedjustasthoughhe’dbeenhitbetweentheeyes—slugged.Hecouldn’tgetawordout.Justbeforehewenttowork,hesaid,‘IthinkI’llstopinattheprecinctstation.Shemightofgotrunover.’

           "Well,Iwenttoschool,andrightafterschoolIcamehome.Mymothertoldmetoaskallthegirlsifthey’dseenMay.BythattimethenewshadgotaroundthatMaywasgone.Theysaidtheyhadn’tseenMayatall.Theywereallshiveryaboutit.Thenmyfathercamehome.He’dbeentothepolicestationonthewayhome,too.Hesaid,‘Thecopstookadescription.Theysaidthey’dkeeptheireyespeeled.’

           "Thatnightwasjustliketheonebefore.Myoldmanandmymothersittingsidebyside,onlymyfatherdidn’tdoanytalkingthatsecondnight.Theyleftthelightonallnightagain.Thenextdaymyoldmanwentbacktothestationhouse.