Сумерки

           HadBillygottensomethinginbeforeI’djoinedtheminthelivingroom?

           ButCharliewasrelaxed,stillgrinningfromtheunexpectedvisit.

           "Ididn’tgetachancetotalktoyoutonight.Howwasyourday?"

           "Good."Ihesitatedwithonefootonthefirststair,searchingfordetailsIcouldsafelyshare."Mybadmintonteamwonallfourgames."

           "Wow,Ididn’tknowyoucouldplaybadminton."

           "Well,actuallyIcan’t,butmypartnerisreallygood,"Iadmitted.

           "Whoisit?"heaskedwithtokeninterest.

           "Um...MikeNewton,"Itoldhimreluctantly.

           "Ohyeah-yousaidyouwerefriendswiththeNewtonkid."Heperkedup."Nicefamily."Hemusedforaminute."Whydidn’tyouaskhimtothedancethisweekend?"

           "Dad!"Igroaned."He’skindofdatingmyfriendJessica.Besides,youknowIcan’tdance."

           "Ohyeah,"hemuttered.Thenhesmiledatmeapologetically."SoIguessit’sgoodyou’llbegoneSaturday...I’vemadeplanstogofishingwiththeguysfromthestation.Theweather’ssupposedtoberealwarm.Butifyouwantedtoputyourtripofftillsomeonecouldgowithyou,I’dstayhome.IknowIleaveyouherealonetoomuch."

           "Dad,you’redoingagreatjob."Ismiled,hopingmyreliefdidn’tshow."I’venevermindedbeingalone-I’mtoomuchlikeyou."Iwinkedathim,andhesmiledhiscrinkly-eyedsmile.

           Isleptbetterthatnight,tootiredtodreamagain.WhenIwoketothepearlgraymorning,mymoodwasblissful.ThetenseeveningwithBillyandJacobseemedharmlessenoughnow;Idecidedtoforgetitcompletely.