Если я останусь
12:19 P.M.
"YoMamabetterwatchhisback,"hesaid.
TheauditionswereheldinSanFrancisco.Dadhadsomebigconferenceattheschoolthatweekandcouldn’tgetaway,andMomhadjuststartedanewjobatthetravelagency,soGranvolunteeredtoaccompanyme."We’llmakeagirls’weekendofit.TakehighteaattheFairmont.Gowindow-shoppinginUnionSquare.RidetheferrytoAlcatraz.We’llbetourists."
Butaweekbeforewewereduetoleave,Grantrippedoveratreerootandsprainedherankle.Shehadtowearoneofthoseclunkybootsandwasn’tsupposedtowalk.Minorpanicensued.IsaidIcouldjustgobymyself—drive,ortakethetrain,andcomerightback.
ItwasGrampswhoinsistedontakingme.Wedrovedowntogetherinhispickuptruck.Wedidn’ttalkmuch,whichwasfinebymebecauseIwassonervous.IkeptfingeringthePopsicle-stickgood-lucktalismanTeddyhadpresentedmewithbeforeweleft."Breakanarm,"he’dtoldme.
GrampsandIlistenedtoclassicalmusicandfarmreportsontheradiowhenwecouldpickupastation.Otherwise,wesatinsilence.Butitwassuchacalmingsilence;itmademerelaxandfeelclosertohimthananyheart-to-heartwouldhave.
Granhadbookedusinareallyfrillyinn,anditwasfunnytoseeGrampsinhisworkbootsandplaidflannelamidallthelacydoiliesandpotpourri.Buthetookitallinstride.
Theauditionwasgrueling
