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Show 9-9 from us and watched us steadily. They sat, motionless, seemingly breathless, through the long morning, watching, listening, silent as before. In my happiness and relief at being here, I would not have minded if they had scolded us and told us to remember that this was a hospital. But no one did. We were left alone. At lunch time, one of the sisters brought Andrew his tray and we shared the food, I munching on the carrots and apple that were hard for him to eat and he eating Ruth's raisin bread. I knew the day was moving on, that I had to go back to Ruth's so she wouldn't call Mother, but I couldn't leave, I didn't want to break off the happy day. So I stayed. The men returned from lunch and scattered about the shadows, many now sleeping, laying bandaged heads on swaddled arms. Others simply rested, looking far off into the trees. Andrew borrowed a checkers board and" pieces and webegan a game. He beat me easily and I was setting up the pieces for a second match. "Annie," Andrew said, looking behind me, "is your mother a tall woman? And does she wear a wide-brimmed straw hat?" I looked up quickly and then over my shoulder. My mother stood on the path that curvedalongside the hospital. She stood alone and she was looking at us, at Andrew and me. I looked back at Andrew. I could fell my heart beat. I could feel the rough surface of the table where my fingers gripped it. Andrew smiled at me. "Come on, kid. Don't look so scared. You can always come and live here if she throws you out." |