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Show I could hardly hear her next words. "I won't allow Annie to go out there again." But I knew she had said the words. For several seconds they did not mean anything. They were only sounds. Then I knew what she had said. I looked up at Father. He was staring at Mother's back sadly, the same look on his face as when he looked out at the wounded men at the hospital. He dropped his arm from my shoulder. I shivered slightly, my back and shoulders cool where he had touched me. Mother turned back to us. "Did you hear me, Annie?" She spoke almost briskly now. "I'm sorry, but you can't go out to St. John's again. Seeing these men, seeing Andrew will only upset and worry you." She came and knelt in front of me, her long white skirt spreading out in front of her and covering my shoes. She put her hands on my shoulders where Father's arm had been. Her hands felt hot and her fingers dug into my skin. I couldn't look into her eyes. I couldn't bear to see Mother afraid, and I could hear the fear in her voice. "Besides, Annie, it may upset them to have you out there. They probably are embarrassed about the way they look and would rather not have visitors just yet. Maybe in time." She patted my cheek, and then lifted my chin. I still couldn't look at her. "Annie? Please try to understand. That war brought so much awfulness to so many people. I won't have it touching you. It's over and done with. We should forget it." She knelt in front of me a moment longer and then folded her hands in her lap. |