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Show 19-12 "Andrew," I called to him. But he did not hear. I stood and watched as he disappeared into the darker shadows of the trees. I stood on the curb and raced with him in my mind, feeling the wind with him on his face and in his hair, feeling the ground below and the stars above. I stood for a long time on the curb looking down the empty street. When I turned around, Father was also standing in the driveway, looking after him. "Will he be all right?" Father nodded. "This is the best thing for him. For this moment, he can be on his own." We waited on the porch, Mother and Ruth with us. We didn't talk. We were all waiting for the sound of the motor to tell us he was coming back. And in about an hour he did. He came down the block, slowly, turned into the driveway, and stopped behind the car. He sat for a minute on the bike without moving. I looked at Father in alarm. Then we both went down to him. "Everything all right, Andrew?" Father asked. "Yes sir. That was . . . I can't say- . . it was just fine." Andrew's eyes were still shining but his face looked drawn in the shadows, the droop of his eyes and mouth stronger. He looked old. "We'll save your ride with Annie for another time. You need to get back to St. John's." "But Father ..." "You heard me, Annie. Andrew is tired." He put his arm around Andrew and helped him climb off the bike. I noticed Andrew's hands trembled as he released the handlebars. "Thanks, thanks for everything," Andrew whispered. I looked behind me and saw that Mother had come down off the porch. She reached around me and put her hand on Andrew's cheek. . 11 "We want you to come again. Often. Please. |