Сумерки

           Myprimarymotivationbehindbuyingacar,despitethescarcityofmyfunds,wasthatIrefusedtobedrivenaroundtowninacarwithredandbluelightsontop.Nothingslowsdowntrafficlikeacop.

           Charliegavemeanawkward,one-armedhugwhenIstumbledmywayofftheplane.

           "It’sgoodtoseeyou,Bells,"hesaid,smilingasheautomaticallycaughtandsteadiedme.

           "Youhaven’tchangedmuch.How’sRene?"

           "Mom’sfine.It’sgoodtoseeyou,too,Dad."Iwasn’tallowedtocallhimCharlietohisface.

           Ihadonlyafewbags.MostofmyArizonaclothesweretoopermeableforWashington.MymomandIhadpooledourresourcestosupplementmywinterwardrobe,butitwasstillscanty.Itallfiteasilyintothetrunkofthecruiser.

           "Ifoundagoodcarforyou,reallycheap,"heannouncedwhenwewerestrappedin.

           "Whatkindofcar?"Iwassuspiciousofthewayhesaid"goodcarforyou"asopposedtojust"goodcar."

           "Well,it’satruckactually,aChevy."

           "Wheredidyoufindit?"

           "DoyourememberBillyBlackdownatLaPush?"LaPushisthetinyIndianreservationonthecoast.

           "No."

           "Heusedtogofishingwithusduringthesummer,"Charlieprompted.

           ThatwouldexplainwhyIdidn’trememberhim.Idoagoodjobofblockingpainful,unnecessarythingsfrommymemory.

           "He’sinawheelchairnow,"CharliecontinuedwhenIdidn’trespond,"sohecan’tdriveanymore,andheofferedtosellmehistruckcheap."

           "Whatyearisit?"IcouldseefromhischangeofexpressionthatthiswasthequestionhewashopingIwouldn’task.