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Show CHAPTER SEVENTEEN The summer was disappearing faster than it ever had before. Mother's roses were at their peak, lush and velvety. One afternoon, I found her there, pruning and hoeing. The kittens trailed after her and I picked them up on my way to her. "Glad you're back," Mother said as she pushed her hair from her eyes with the back of her hand. "Your father called from St. John's. He asked us both to come out to the hospital." She handed me the basket of roses. "Said he had something to tell us, and that he couldn't get away just now." She nodded at the roses. "Do you want to take some to Andrew?" "Oh yes, I think he'd like that. I've got a new library book for him. All about Africa. He's really enjoying the maps. Says he's learning more every day." I knelt in the hot scorched grass and arranged the roses. "Annie, do you know what this is all about?" Mother stood in the hot sun, her scissors in her hand, staring at me. I had no reason to feel guilty, but I did. She hadn't seemed interested in Paul's missing medal so I hadn't mentioned it to her again. But I was sure that was what Father wanted to see us about. Father and Andrew. "Well, Andrew might want to see you. About Paul." "Paul. He didn't know Paul, did he?" "No, but he said he'd ask about the medal, the Purple Heart." "What Purple Heart?" "Uncle Paul didn't get one. And he should have, since he died." "Oh, Lord. What does it matter? He's still dead, medal or no. Dead is dead." "Andrew thought it was strange and said he'd try to find out." I pushed at the rnsM. "I think he should have one." |