Если я останусь

           "Yourmomalwayssaidshecouldn’tbelievewhataneasygirlyouwereandIremembertellingher,‘Justwaituntilshehitspuberty.’Butyouprovedmewrong.Eventhenyouweresuchabreeze.Nevergaveusanytrouble.Neverthekindofgirltomakemyheartraceinfear.Youmadeupforalifetimeofthattoday."

           "Now,now,"Grampssays,puttingahandonhershoulder.

           "Oh,I’monlykidding.Miawouldappreciateit.She’sgotasenseofhumor,nomatterhowseriousshesometimesseems.Awickedsenseofhumor,thisone."

           Granpullsthechairupnexttomybedandstartscombingthroughmyhairwithherfingers.Someonehasrinseditout,so,whileit’snotexactlyclean,it’snotcakedwithblood,either.Granstartsuntanglingmybangs,whichareaboutchinlength.I’mforevercuttingbangs,thengrowingthem.It’saboutasradicalamakeoverasIcangivemyself.Sheworksherwaydown,pullingthehairoutfromunderthepillowsoitstreamsdownmychest,hidingsomeofthelinesandtubesconnectedtome."There,muchbetter,"shesays."Youknow,Iwentoutsideforawalktodayandyou’llneverguesswhatIsaw.Acrossbill.InPortlandinFebruary.Now,that’sunusual.Ithinkit’sGlo.Shealwayshadasoftspotforyou.Saidyouremindedherofyourfather,andsheadoredhim.WhenhecuthisfirstcrazyMohawkhairdo,shepracticallythrewhimaparty.Shelovedthathewasrebellious,sodifferent.Littledidsheknowyourfathercouldn’tstandher.