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Show 9-12 "I can't bear pain myself and to see people who are in pain is . . . ," Mother whispered now, "almost more than I can bear. So I don't go where they are. And especially here. . ." She waved her hand out to the trees and the silent men. "All these young men. So useless. So horribly useless. I'm sorry if you don't feel that way." Andrew shook his head, his hands restlessly moving the checker pieces. "So when I found out that Annie was spending her days in a place I couldn't bear to go to and with a man I would not have the courage to talk to, well, I'm afraid I was being unfair. To you both." Mother was looking at Andrew intently. He looked up at her. "I'm sorry if I've hurt you. I'm not very good at this." Again Andrew shook his head. He cleared his throat. "Mrs. Metcalf, please don't feel you're alone. My own mother . . .", he cleared his throat again. "My mother won't come to see me. Says she can't bear to see me like this. So it's not unusual. You, you're like your daughter. At least you come." He rested both elbows on the table and held his bandaged hands up in the air. "I know I'm a horrible sight and that I scare folks. I know that I have to live on like this. Having people to talk to, well, it means a lot. So don't apologize for hurting me. You can't do more to me than has been done." "It's nice of you to be so generous. It doesn't really excuse my cowardice, though." She turned to look at me. "That's what Ruth called it today when she called to tell me where you were. Cowardice." Mother pursed her lips as we looked at each other. "My friend prides herself on always telling the truth." Then she put both hands on the table. "So here we are. I can't face things, you don't tell the truth, but . . . " She paused. "I have met Andrew." |
