sareinschoolall
**inday,andthereisntahellofalotyoucandoforrachel”foranute,jackoholdhistonguewhenhewasin
ntrolagain,hesaid,”actually,thereisicanpainthey,daughteeedsthephoneihavetogo,davelater”hehungupthephone
”paintanthaasked,tossingherhairbackinagesturethatetinegligentandpowerful
”yourstuff,”heanswered
shescresstuffis
hersyoucants**”thephonerangagainhebeathertoit”yes””itsvictoriahoydaughter””youcant,”santhainsisted
”shesthesa,”hetoldhistherinlauingthefingertohisear”thedoctorsthinkthatsgoodnews”
”idonttherestbesothingtheycandoivebeenaskingpeoplehere,andtheyallagreeyoudontjustsitaroundandiberofhorrorstories,horrorstories,ive
heardabouttisiontakenthatshouldhavebeentaken
ifiyselfsixnthsfroow
lookingbackandregrettingthatididntpushdidntnhaveanysuggestions””nohatthedoctorshere”
”thedoctorsthere
huhtheoneitalkedhtheotherdaysoundedtooyoungtoknowchidliketonsulteoneinnewyork
illbebacktherelatertorroyboardwassendingflowersdidtheyarrive””afeinutesago,butshesintheicu,victoriaitdbebestifyouaskedpeoplenottosendthingswellonlyhavetogivethetheruth,butheenvisioned
victoriaspreadingtheaterializingin
ra
”youtoldnottoe,jackhasthatchangedisthereanythingianthatuggedathisarouthed,then
saidtovie”
”hasyourtherbeendown
””ihaventtalkedhher”
”shedoesntknosterrible,jackgiveheracallsheshouldbetoldillorroeanti,you
knoe”
”itisntright,”santhasaidashehungupthephone”tellaboutit,”hettered,thinkingabouttherlydevotionifvietoseerachel,sheallupatreeand
hisootheraphonecallehoeway
sheehiortheaccident
”soyouanthaasked
”sedgears”i
planningtos**ioyinghtheidea
offinishingafehosepiecessothatbencangoaheadhtheshow”
”sheyoudoingthat”
”ohdidyouask”santhadeaface”thateanthingtosay”
”otherisinaa,eansthat
noneofuscanask,soknoshesshedidthis
shoanthagruntedhetooktobea
no
”andbensaystheshobepostponed,soareo
do””soofherpicturesarefinishedtheycanbeintheshow”andfyourtherdoesnteveraybenow
oever,toots,heperincheck
”knoeadow”
”ofurseikno,”shesaidindisgust”anyonewhosbeeninthishouseknoforyearsits
favorite”
”right,”hesaid,gainingstrength”doyouknohatihelpedpaintit”herheringlooksaidthatnotonlydidntshekno,butthatshedidntbelieveitforanute”youweresixyearsoldyourtherandiountainsnotfarfroerewhen
eback,thathepicturesed”
”like,anthacked”atree”there
hadntbeennytistothe
pointoflosingntrol,andthisone,buthetakinganychances
verydeliberately,hetuckedhishandsinhispocketshadhebeenhisfather,hetotakethesfullookoff
santhasfacetherehadtobeabetterway
”haveyoueverdraree”heasked
”everyonesdrarees”
”yeah”catchingherinahatlocked,he
strodetohefrontdoor
”e”shecried”ihavethingstodo”he
didnttalk,didntlookback,didntstopuntiltheyhewoodsandstandingfacetofacehthetrunkofoneofthelargestoftheredoneofthegiantsequoiasthatgreheorth
andinland,justaastreditwoulddofine
draanthainfrontofhiheheldherrigidshouldersandsaidoverthecrohatstraightblondhair,”doyousee””bark,”shesnapped
”else””bark”
”okay,lorisit””red,”shesaid,thenslowly,pedantically,”thisisaredwood”
”brightredbriaroon””idontknow
ever”
”ifyouakeitbrightred
brick”answer,hesqueezedashoulder
”darkerthanthat,”shettered
”hogany””ybe”
”allofit””ean””allofit
hogany””yes,”shebitout
hereleasedoneshoulder,reachedoverit,andtouchedapieceofthebark”butaboutthispartthehelighthits,itsdarkerbyashadeortovedhisfinger”thispartsashadeortwodarkerthanthat”andagain”thispartsalstblackcanyouseethat””yes,icanseeit”
”ifyoupainttheahogany,youlllosethetexture”hesthepadsofhisfingersoverthebark”lookattheshapeofthispiece,op,taperingdohehisonewaves
backandforthandthissickleshapedpieceyoudlosetheseshapesifyoudidthehingonelor”helookedhigher”andupthereakesthebarkreorangethan
redsoyoudssthat,too,ifyoudidtheahogany”helookedwayup
”notheneedles”
”youvedeyourpoint”
”lookatthenyingherheadhhishandsand
usingonlyenoughpressureasotipitup”theneedlesarefeatheryrichgreennoorebluegreeninthislight,ithink
er,alstli,hesunhits”hepaused”isitthe
needlesthatsllsogood,orthebark””idontknoyfaultthatiheonlyoneinthisfalydrak
hequestionth
