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Show Fair Forever 176 would only sting a little. This hurt started in my stomach and swelled all the way to my throat: And it wouldn't go away. Hurt shouldn 't last that long. When Mom, came home, she climbed to my catwalk. We sat for a while without talking. I think she hurt, too. Mom said, 'Amanda will miss you, Bradley. More than you can know.' I turned away. I didn't want Mom to see my tears. Will she come see me at the hospital?' I asked. 7 don't think so, she sighed. 7 think she's going far away. She needs some time to heal, too, and I'm not talking about her hands.' Mom paused. 'Amanda's healing will take courage . . . time and courage. You gave her that courage. She wanted you to know. Now, she needs the time. You '11 understand someday.' Why is my whole life about 'someday,' I wondered? Grownups had been talking about 'someday'.my whole life. I hated that word. Mom stayed on the catwalk for a long time. We listened for the phone. That night we went to the hospital and I got my new heart. I turn to the man, but he doesn't speak. For a long time we sit silent, side by side. We did that sometimes in the channel. He would carve and I would watch and we would rock in the swells, letting the time pass. I miss seeing him carve. I'll find him some driftwood, I decide. I'll scout the coves and the beaches and find driftwood. |