Сумерки

           Weexchangedafewmorecommentsontheweather,whichwaswet,andthatwasprettymuchitforConversation.Westaredoutthewindowsinsilence.

           Itwasbeautiful,ofcourse;Icouldn’tdenythat.Everythingwasgreen:thetrees,theirtrunkscoveredwithmoss,theirbrancheshangingwithacanopyofit,thegroundcoveredwithferns.Eventheairfiltereddowngreenlythroughtheleaves.

           Itwastoogreen-analienplanet.

           EventuallywemadeittoCharlie’s.Hestilllivedinthesmall,two-bedroomhousethathe’dboughtwithmymotherintheearlydaysoftheirmarriage.Thoseweretheonlykindofdaystheirmarriagehad-theearlyones.There,parkedonthestreetinfrontofthehousethatneverchanged,wasmynew-well,newtome-truck.Itwasafadedredcolor,withbig,roundedfendersandabulbouscab.Tomyintensesurprise,Ilovedit.Ididn’tknowifitwouldrun,butIcouldseemyselfinit.Plus,itwasoneofthosesolidironaffairsthatnevergetsdamaged-thekindyouseeatthesceneofanaccident,paintunscratched,surroundedbythepiecesoftheforeigncarithaddestroyed.

           "Wow,Dad,Iloveit!Thanks!"Nowmyhorrificdaytomorrowwouldbejustthatmuchlessdreadful.Iwouldn’tbefacedwiththechoiceofeitherwalkingtwomilesintheraintoschooloracceptingarideintheChief’scruiser.

           "I’mgladyoulikeit,"Charliesaidgruffly,embarrassedagain.

           Ittookonlyonetriptogetallmystuffupstairs.Igotthewestbedroomthatfacedoutoverthefrontyard.