foresheulddoitherself
”helaskedhewheel
hestartedthecar”whye”
helefttheparkinglotanddroveseveralblocksbeforehesaid”becauseyoulovedthatcarishouldnthavesolditthewayidid”rachelissionsolongafterthefact,but
thereuchtoseeanddotodsherolleddownher
breezethatblewinashedrove
herlungsore”wherearewegoing””p
eets”theshoingherpaintingshildren,
noesandondisplayshehadseen
santhaandhopesheedtoseeher,”atthishour””itsfridaynighttheyreopenlate”
”itsnearlyten
””no,itsnot,”jacksaidbutittheclockand
syoutoseethepaintings”
”ogetin”
”in”shedidntargue,didnthavethestrengthjackwasdeteeditwasallinhishands
layingherheadagainsttheheadrest,shesaid,”ihaventthankedyoufordoingthefrangirateful”
”youhadeverythingthere
thegirlshelped”sherolledherheadtolookathisixyearshadntainedthickandtoolongin
thebackhisnoseouthstrong,hischinandneckfirshehadalbeautifulthathadntchanged
”thankyouforstaying,”shesaid
henodded,butdidntspeak
earsprickedherlids,shelookedforo
talk,usedtogoonandonaboutevertheyed,orkeeputterlystill,buttherenoeasenohe
insideithurttobehjacklikethis,lockedoutassurelyasshehadbeenattheendithurtshehadherine
theresnopointinthis,”shesaid,feelingtiredandweakherpaintingsuldostinthatinstantobury
herheadinapillory
”ostthere”
”jack,theyreclosed”hedidntansplydroveonthroughthebaelandpulledupinfrontofthegallerythe
placelookeddarkanddesertedsthecarandpeeredinthefrontwindow
usinghishandsasblinders,hetriedtoseereheknockedontheglass,tothedoorandknockedharder
”custodian,”hecalledtorachelheknockedagain,studiedtheidoor,jabbedhisthuonthebellhecuppedhishandsontheglassandpeeredinsideagainhehitthebellseveralretisracheluringapersonobluntthenoiseof
avacuuedtoherandraisedavictoriousfistsendslater,anheinsideofthedoor,wavingahandno,shakinghishead
jayheartistto
open
shesbeeninthehospitalinaaistoleherouttoshowherthis
tinutesthatsallanopenedhishandsina
helplessgesture
jackheldupafinger,tellinghiointeps,hewasatthecar,liftingrachelout,carryinghertothedoor”seeherate,
bud”
”shoid,”racheltried,because,havingethisfar,beingthisclose,sheedin
herarher,soclose,so
tender
”na,notyours,”hesaidhregretshechedthelittlelineeandgobetlyloohergood
foot,heanchoredhertohissideovedhischandhelditup
”itsatagititsyours”
”jaanopenedthedoor
rachelsaanhisheadhadanstantshake
”idontuled,barelyopeninghisuth”i
yjobplae”
”thisistheartist”
”uldbeathief”
”doesshelooklikeathiefheasrachelkeatslook”hethuedthehisnoticerachelkeats”torachel,hesaid,”tingyourpictureonaflyer”beforesheuldsayshedidntthinkso,hetoldthen,”goinsideandlookforaflyer
anscratchedhisnose
hisheadntinuedtoknow”
jackliftedrachelagain,shoulderedthedooropen,andenteredthegalleryrachelfeltalittlenaughty,butexcited,veryexcited”plaintfroehind,butjack
where
raedofseeingherthings
itosteerilysilentsheheldherbreaththereinhisar,catchingituedandbacktothewall
sheheldontighterselftosnagthelightshan
elbow
eon,heand
carefullylosaroundher
iliarityoftheposealone
adehercry,exceptthatsheractedndnotbythevoirhis”she
barelybreathehereyeranaroundtheroonotknoosettle,ingtoseeeverythingatonceshefeltsurrounded,overedtheseoreinntent,rein
style,reinnuersearsblurredhervision,shepushedbothhandsagainsthereyestosteheleavingherhandsoverheruth,shebeganhthebobcatsthatcanvaseshehad
alreadyseenitfradandhung,likehethatflankedit,butthencathebutterfliesandtherattlesnakeandthegrayhesheepandherarcticich
thesunkingafulllengthhaloofitsefur
shegaspedshehadntfinishedthearcticigod”shehadntfinishedthequailorthedeerorthegreategret,either
”ogod”theloonstheloons,sittingonthatrroredsurfaceofalakeatdusk,htheislandinthecenterandtheskylitbytheauroraborealisjackhaddohisnooneelseuldhavehehaddoneitforhersobeautifully,soheautfullyheghtaswellhaveputheronapedestalanddrapedthatplainstonepillarhvariationsofthesoftest,richest,stexquisitevelvetthereetheycahardandfast
alonghhuge,ouchedandlonelyandneedy
andingandafraid,soafraidthatthosepaintingswereasgoodasitgo
