Сумерки

           "Iwantedtocatchthescoreonthegame,anyway."

           IwatchedTVwithCharlieafterdinner,forsomethingtodo.Therewasn’tanythingonIwantedtowatch,butheknewIdidn’tlikebaseball,soheturnedittosomemindlesssitcomthatneitherofusenjoyed.Heseemedhappy,though,tobedoingsomethingtogether.Anditfeltgood,despitemydepression,tomakehimhappy.

           "Dad,"Isaidduringacommercial,"JessicaandAngelaaregoingtolookatdressesforthedancetomorrownightinPortAngeles,andtheywanted

           metohelpthemchoose...doyoumindifIgowiththem?"

           "JessicaStanley?"heasked.

           "AndAngelaWeber."IsighedasIgavehimthedetails.

           Hewasconfused."Butyou’renotgoingtothedance,right?"

           "No,Dad,butI’mhelpingthemfinddresses-youknow,givingthemconstructivecriticism."Iwouldn’thavetoexplainthistoawoman.

           "Well,okay."Heseemedtorealizethathewasoutofhisdepthwiththegirliestuff."It’saschoolnight,though."

           "We’llleaverightafterschool,sowecangetbackearly.You’llbeokayfordinner,right?"

           "Bells,Ifedmyselfforseventeenyearsbeforeyougothere,"heremindedme.

           "Idon’tknowhowyousurvived,"Imuttered,thenaddedmoreclearly,"I’llleavesomethingsforcold-cutsandwichesinthefridge,okay?Rightontop."

           Itwassunnyagaininthemorning.IawakenedwithrenewedhopethatIgrimlytriedtosuppress.IdressedforthewarmerweatherinadeepblueV-neckblouse-somethingI’dworninthedeadofwinterinPhoenix.