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Show 70 "You want a story?" Dyna was just warming up. "I'll tell you a story. A true one. Remember Oscar?" "Let the lower lights be burning-" John mumbled, without expression. Everyone laughed, including Dyna. "I shouldn't have done that to him. He was scared to death, wasn't he?" "Yeah, well, what about old Oscar?" Derek pushed. "Let me tell you first, I've known him as long as I can remember. He and Gram have been good friends since . . . I don't know . . . World War I or something. He used to take me to dog shows when I was little. They were free then," she pointed out. "Cat shows, too, but we liked the dog shows better. Once he let me ride the Liberty Park merry-go-round thirteen times in a row, just because I wouldn't get off. He's that kind of sweet old guy, you know? Friday night he insisted on paying for a taxi, too. Wouldn't let any of us chip in or anything. Well, anyway . . . " Dyna stopped talking and looked down at her sneakers. Parker knew, studying her back, that her expression had changed. So had her voice, which had suddenly gone tight. "He's going to lose his house because he can't pay the taxes." There wasn't a sound in the room now. "Can't he get help somewhere?" Jan asked at last, remembering Oscar, forgetting the TV show. "He's proud. You know? His family owned the house since pioneer days. He can't believe anyone can sell it out from under him." "They can't," Parker said, surprised to find himself in the conversation. "So how come they've given him an auction date?" "For last year's taxes?" "Naw," Dyna turned sideways toward Parker. He noticed the flush in her cheek. "Gram pinned him down finally. It was five years ago. He's kept up since, but doesn't have the money to cover that year when he had to quit working." Derek whistled. "Think of the interest!" Jan exclaimed. Dyna spread her hands. "Knowing Oscar, he probably thought the year coming up would be better. He musta figured he'd be able to find the money somewhere, but never did." |
