edontknobstonesorleaveourtrasharound,”isaidididntietohearaboutlastaguylikethatuldlieinbedandwellyouknow
“doyoueverjustsitaroundandlistentothesounds”sheasked“likethecricketschirping,ortherustlingofleaveshelieonyourbacksandstareatthestars”
eventhoughsheiedidntknohefirstthingaboutteenagers,andtryingtounderstandteenageboysforherryingtodecipherthetheoryofrelativity
“notreally,”isaid
shenoddedalittle“ithinkthatseanidjustlookaroundtoreallyseetheplaentsandsine,isortoffeltobligedtoaskheraboutherselfian,shehadntbroughtupthelordsplanoranything,soitheleastiulddo
“so,ean”itsoundedridie,iadt,butthatsshedid
shesledatithinksheoresurprisedatinterestinher
“idoalotofthingsistudyforclasses,ispendtiydadnohenthingslikethat”
“doyoueverjustgooffuch
“illbetyoureexcitedaboutgoingofftollegenextyear,”isaid,changingthesubject
ittookheranttoanswer
“idontthinkioingtogo,”shesaidtteroffaiehadsoofthehighestgradesinourseniorclass,anddependingonhoesterightevenendupvaledictorianessheentionthelordsplaninherspeech,bytheinutes“onithoughtthatsogoyoudloveaplacelikethat,”ioffered
shelookedateanidfitrightinthere,dontyou”
thoseesthreackyourightbetheeyeballs
“ididntanitthateantthatidheardabouthoedyouobegoingtherenextyear”
sheshruggede,andtobehonest,ididntknoakeofitbythenakeouthegbertsshadothroughthecurtainsthelaethingiassudithebible
“thankyouforeho,landon,”shesaid,andsheglanontbeforefinallystartingupthewalk
asiesidevertalkedtoher,thiseofheransedpraalthenextnight,asie,sheaskedaboutfather
“hesallright,ireuch”
“doyoussthatnotgroaround”
“sotis”
“isstoo,”shesaid,“eventhoughineverevenkneeidevesideredthatjaeandighthavesothinginniletthatsinkinforawhile
“itstbehardforyou,”isaidsinyfathersastrangerto,atleasthesstillaround”
shelookedupatashenfacedforuggedgentlyatherhairagainionoticethatshedidthissuretosay
“itis,sotisdontgetyfatheryheartbuttherearetisotheraroundithinksheandiyfatherandicant”
iassudshealkingaboutboysituntillaterthatileaedhorongiwas
“sitlike,livinghyourfatherishelikehohurch”
“nohesaor”
“hegbert”iblurtedoutiuldntevenigineitithinksheeyntinsteadshesaid,“dontlooksosurprisedyoulllikehionceyougettokno”
“idoubtifillevergettokno”
“youneverknoiling,“ightevenhaveadirectticketintoheaven,ifyouknoean,beingashowgoodapersonshewas
“ho”iasked
shedidntansiledtoherself,asifshekneesecretthatshelikeisaid,ihatedithatthenextnightalkedaboutherbible
“whydoyoualhyou”iasked
noedsheplybecausesheinistersdaughteritption,givenhoething
sheepsbeforeanswering
“itythers,”shesaidsily
“oh”isaiditlikeidsteppedonsoonespetturtle,squashingitundershoe
shelookedat“itsokay,landonhoouldyouhaveknown”
“iorryiasked”
“dontbeyoudidntananythingbyit”shepaused“therandfatheryditfirstshereaditalltheti,especiallyeinherlife”
ithoughtaboutthescarriagesjaeon
“shelovedtoreaditatnight,beforesheyfatherfoundoutthatshehaddied,heeti”“iorry,”
