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Show house/ 434 of the ruins of the past, just as he once had, after Aunt Karen had left him./Would I ever make it beyond the thickets of fear and confusion that lay before me, to start a life with Brian? Would I ever enjoy the riches of children and grandchildren, of a clear and sustaining doctrine of living? Yes, we were uncomfortably alike, he and I, ensconced by hyperindividuality, imprisoned by our passion for living, hampered in our own self-importance, condemned by the love and responsibility we felt -/W r====-,rrzzzzzz_ others. I understood him, in one blinding moment - understood that he was a man, idol days, , a human being. He was notAthe A of my childhood^ Qm* t>uJ~ o^> ho.**, bee* 1 ^Ji, what great friends we could''iar! &EEt he would never know that. Gerda Brian was across the room and Aunt A „ had him by the rapidly arm, speakingAinto the vulnerable tilt of his ear. She was exercising her seniority, as usual, trying to gather him into the fold. Didn't she realize that she would drive him away, could scare him -^zz^~~~ "- forever? Our relationship couldn't bear so many expectations right now. I hurried toward him with all the .ruffled indignity of a mother hen. Gerda Aunt A saw me coming and placed her other hand on my arm. "I was just telling Brad that he must come to our meetings. They are so inspiring. He'd love them, I know he would." Gerda, , ., , Oh Aunt (\ . I thought angrily. How can you know that °r anything else about someone you just met? And yet I was grateful for her i n v i t a t i o n . Acceptance. She was giving him her acceptance. |