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Show 92 "Maybe you'd better go with her," Rod says to Evan, as he adjusts his tie in front of the living room mirror. They are all somehow flattered by her delight in making this last dinner perfect; the hard thing has been decided, and the family harmony restored. They have been out to buy a good wine, are dressing for dinner, are conversing with each other in genuine interest. Still, the habit of total surveillance is strong, and Evan starts to rise from his seat. But he stops, looks at Rod. "Oh, let her go if she wants to," he says, "she only wants a lemon." If she were not in a hurry, Annis would take the long route to the store, down along the beach and up again into the town; but as i t is she takes the shortcut, through a series of alleys to the l i t t l e group of stores at the near end of town. It is not yet dusk; a single premature streetlight winks on, but the sun has only begun to spread itself out across the sky. Annis hurries through the alleys, across the parking lot near the shops; at the far end of the lot she sees the l i t t l e group of aimless teenagers which is always sitting there. Annis does not stop; she is in a hurry now, and cannot see exactly who is there. But when she is in the store she feels the presence of the child behind her: thin, withdrawn, somehow very shy. Annis turns to her. "I'm sorry you can't come for the dinner," she says, "they're all leaving tomorrow." "I know," says the child miserably. "Uncle Rod said I wasn't to come near the house. He says I disturb you." |
