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Show 9-10 I knew I should get up and go to Mother but my legs wouldn't move. I couldn't even turn to look at her again. Maybe if I didn't she would go away. Maybe she hadn't seen us in the shadows. Maybe she had just come to see Father. Then I remembered that never before had she come to the hospital. I knew why she had come. Suddenly Andrew stood up. I heard a sound, soft and whispering. Mother's skirts. A hand on my shoulder. "Hello, Annie." Her voice. From the corner of my eye I saw Mother move from behind me, around the table toward Andrew. "And you must be Andrew." She held out her hand. Andrew reached out to her and she gently held his bandaged hand in hers. I looked at my mother in astonishment. She was here. She was holding Andrew's hand. She was looking at him. Steadily, quietly. Graciously as she greeted friends at church. Andrew looked back at her and said, "Hello, Mrs. Metcalf. Pleased to meet you." I looked at him. He stood carefully, one hand stretched out to my mother. Mother finally turned to me, releasing Andrew's hand, putting her left hand on my shoulder again. "Well, Annie. So you are here." She looked at me without smiling. Andrew stood on the other side of the table. I looked at him so I would not have to look at Mother. "Mrs. Metcalf, have a seat." Andrew offered her his bench and when she was seated, he came and sat beside me. We both looked at Mother. |