Сумерки

           Ifilledtwoglasseswithmilkwhilehislasagnawasheating,andgulpedminetoputoutthefire.AsIsettheglassdown,Inoticedthemilktremblingandrealizedmyhandwasshaking.Charliesatinthechair,andthecontrastbetweenhimanditsformeroccupantwascomical.

           "Thanks,"hesaidasIplacedhisfoodonthetable.

           "Howwasyourday?"Iasked.Thewordswererushed;Iwasdyingtoescapetomyroom.

           "Good.Thefishwerebiting...howaboutyou?Didyougeteverythingdonethatyouwantedto?"

           "Notreally-itwastooniceouttostayindoors."Itookanotherbigbite.

           "Itwasaniceday,"heagreed.Whatanunderstatement,Ithoughttomyself.

           Finishedwiththelastbiteoflasagna,Iliftedmyglassandchuggedtheremainsofmymilk.

           Charliesurprisedmebybeingobservant."Inahurry?"

           "Yeah,I’mtired.I’mgoingtobedearly."

           "Youlookkindakeyedup,"henoted.Why,ohwhy,didthishavetobehisnighttopayattention?

           "DoI?"wasallIcouldmanageinresponse.Iquicklyscrubbedmydishescleaninthesink,andplacedthemupsidedownonadishtoweltodry.

           "It’sSaturday,"hemused.

           Ididn’trespond.

           "Noplanstonight?"heaskedsuddenly.

           "No,Dad,Ijustwanttogetsomesleep."

           "Noneoftheboysintownyourtype,eh?"Hewassuspicious,buttryingtoplayitcool.

           "No,noneoftheboyshavecaughtmyeyeyet."Iwascarefulnottoover-emphasizethewordboysinmyquesttobetruthfulwithCharlie.

           "IthoughtmaybethatMikeNewton...yousaidhewasfriendly."

           "He’sJustafriend,Dad."