Сумерки

           Finallytheboyswerehungry,andIgotupstifflytofollowthemback.Itriedtokeepupbetterthistimethroughthewoods,sonaturallyIfellafewtimes.Igotsomeshallowscrapesonmypalms,andthekneesofmyjeanswerestainedgreen,butitcouldhavebeenworse.

           WhenwegotbacktoFirstBeach,thegroupwe’dleftbehindhadmultiplied.Aswegotcloserwecouldseetheshining,straightblackhairandcopperskinofthenewcomers,teenagersfromthereservation

           cometosocialize.

           Thefoodwasalreadybeingpassedaround,andtheboyshurriedtoclaimasharewhileEricintroducedusasweeachenteredthedriftwoodcircle.AngelaandIwerethelasttoarrive,and,asEricsaidournames,Inoticedayoungerboysittingonthestonesnearthefireglanceupatmeininterest.IsatdownnexttoAngela,andMikebroughtussandwichesandanarrayofsodastochoosefrom,whileaboywholookedtobetheoldestofthevisitorsrattledoffthenamesofthesevenotherswithhim.AllIcaughtwasthatoneofthegirlswasalsonamedJessica,andtheboywhonoticedmewasnamedJacob.

           ItwasrelaxingtositwithAngela;shewasarestfulkindofpersontobearound-shedidn’tfeeltheneedtofilleverysilencewithchatter.Sheleftmefreetothinkundisturbedwhileweate.AndIwasthinkingabouthowdisjointedlytimeseemedtoflowinForks,passinginablurattimes,withsingleimagesstandingoutmoreclearlythanothers.Andthen,atothertimes,everysecondwassignificant,etchedinmymind.