Сумерки

           "Alwaysthegentleman."Shesmiled."Edwardwasthefirstofmynewsons.I’vealwaysthoughtofhimthatway,eventhoughhe’solderthanI,inonewayatleast."Shesmiledatmewarmly."That’swhyI’msohappythathe’sfoundyou,dear."Theendearmentsoundedverynaturalonherlips."He’sbeentheoddmanoutforfartoolong;it’shurtmetoseehimalone."

           "Youdon’tmind,then?"Iasked,hesitantagain."ThatI’m...allwrongforhim?"

           "No."Shewasthoughtful."You’rewhathewants.Itwillworkout,somehow,"shesaid,thoughherforeheadcreasedwithworry.Anotherpealofthunderbegan.

           Esmestoppedthen;apparently,we’dreachedtheedgeofthefield.Itlookedasiftheyhadformedteams.Edwardwasfaroutinleftfield,Carlislestoodbetweenthefirstandsecondbases,andAliceheldtheball,positionedonthespotthatmustbethepitcher’smound.

           Emmettwasswinginganaluminumbat;itwhistledalmostuntraceablythroughtheair.Iwaitedforhimtoapproachhomeplate,butthenIrealized,ashetookhisstance,thathewasalreadythere-fartherfromthepitcher’smoundthanIwouldhavethoughtpossible.Jasperstoodseveralfeetbehindhim,catchingfortheotherteam.Ofcourse,noneofthemhadgloves.

           "Allright,"Esmecalledinaclearvoice,whichIknewevenEdwardwouldhear,asfaroutashewas."Batterup."

           Alicestoodstraight,deceptivelymotionless.Herstyleseemedtobestealthratherthananintimidatingwindup.