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Show house/ 435 I smiled at Brian who r o l l e d h i s eyes. I shot him a f i e r ce Gerda's look over Aunt A ' shoulder as I gave her the customary k i ss on the cheek. Awrrt Dnt wan not as wdimly ui phyai(ja±±y^a£fgtrfrronate yjth na as thn nth-Hi' mcilliHi-H WHI'H. There was something undemonstrative and restrained about "her; a shadow l i n g e r i n g from her childhood. But she had d i g n i t y , ' aAs t r e n g t h t h a t reminded me vaguely of Brian's mother. ' .< *\ "? "Kevin will be along any minute," Aunt A xold us. "You kids must spend some time together this evening and play some games, like in the old days." It was my turn to roll the eyes. I had no intention of giving up this night alone with Brian. We had only tonight and tomorrow and then. . . . "Nice to meet you, Brad," said Aunt Oerda f striding away. "His name is Brian, Aunt -<Serda-»" I said querelously, knowing she would not hear me. A child ran in front of me, bare feet slapping the cold concrete. One look at the pale, pinched face, and I knew whose child she was. Her mother was just behind her, a baby on one arm, grasping a third child's hand with the other. "Hello, 'Renae." She smiled i n p a i n f u l l y - s l ow r e c o g n i t i o n , then grinned broadly U/A5 through her sharp little teeth - what left of them. I was reminded vaguely of an Eskimo woman, her teeth worn to nothing from -Zz.Z~~^:ZZZZ:chevilng hide to soften it. She threw an arm around me, crushing the baby between us. I was stung by the sallowness of her cheeks, the deep half-moons under her eyes. She wasn't that much older than I, but she seemed so |