hichshouchheknotogo””sure”his
voiiledback”ae”
hopesatonherbedrooloorabooklayopenbesideher,butshewasstudyingheradeher,hadifferent
onthguineverep
littleball,kingpreciousfewsounds
carefullycradlingthecat,sheroseandoutinherstockingfeettofindherfatherheorthekitchen,
othersbedrooshefoundhin
thestudio
hesfoldedhewas
deepinncentration,studyingcanvasesthathehadlinedupontheoppositesideoftheroo
shestoodquietlybythedoor,tellingherselfthatybesheshouldleaveandebacklaterbutsheneededtotalk
”hi,sie,”hesaidandlookedatherfeet”he
boots
””inrooareyoudoing”sheasked
”lookingatyourthersstuffshesgood”
”areyoureallygoingtofinishherpictures””idontknowasjustathoughtotherbeangrye
ifidid”hopedidntthinksoshehadnteverheardrachelsayanythingbadaboutjacksaoldhershejustlistening,butshewas
”daddy””,sorrohink
ysgoingtosjusttakinglongerthanihad
hopeditwould”
”uchtheyreing,tootheyre
pleasedthatshesnotgettinghatifrachel
gettinghenthebadstuffsheodoh
hercatsheraisedherarsothatsheuldrubherfaceinguineveresfuritething
right
”guineveresgettinge
anyreiclap,andshedoesnteventuherheadshesgoingtodiesoon,daddy”hepushedathe,and
rubbedguineverebetheears”issheinpain””noshedohroathurtshehadtoforce
the”daddy,llidohoughtfora
nute”youllbesadyoullgrieveforher”that
hopeant”ean,icantjust
throlikeshehickenbones”helookedcross”youshouldntbeplish
anythingthiselikeshesreadytodie”but
hopefelttheurgencyofit”sheisikno,daddyicanfeelit”
”yourejustscared”
”no,”sheinsisted”itshappening
soigoingtodo”hefrouchcrossnowas
unsure”doyoutodo””itoburyher”he
sinutesheuld
seethathedidntknoanthahedidnt
thinktheheydid
”okay,”hesaid,surprisingher”youcanburyhertherestbeapetceterysohopedidntapet
ceteryshedidnttohavetogodrivingtoseeguineveresheedthecatnearby,edguineveretoknohatshewasnearby”orheforest,”jacksaid,glancingoutthe
window
”souch,hope
thought,nodding
”done,”hesaidandpulledherclose
shedidntsayanythingforanutebecauseherthroathurtagainthistiitwaswronghedid
understand
thatanthecared
”daddy”shehear”youleaveus
alone,
annoyedhinough,heuldanddoesntwakeupand
youhavetogobacktothecitytoeoostay
here”
”i”
”doyouprose””iprose”shesighed
evenresoftly,allestbitofbreath,shesaid,”iloveyou”hedidntansshefelthischeekagainstthetopofherhead,andinthatinstant,theclocktuedbackandshebelievedovedfrohespot
herthenightbeforefrightened,sheleanedclose,closeenoughsothatthecath”guin”she
hecatscheekhafingertipthe
sllestventagainstherfinger,sheletoutabreathshedrapedanarightlyaroundthecatandlayclose,thinking,iloveyou,guinevere,iloveyou,andheardthewhisperofanansweringpurrthenitstoppedforseveralnutes,hopedidntve”guin
”sherokedthecatsheadandedforapurr,
strokedagain,edagainherehing,sheburiedherheadinguineveresolingfurandbegantocry
”hope”jackcalled,ingtothedoor”areyouup”gulpingsobsbubbledupfronside,theyonly
greloser,hopingshewaswrong,hoping
shetersheuldjeelit,agiant
etiness,abighole,ahugealoneness
”sie”hetouchedherhead”hope,isit”hetouchedthecat,lefthishandthereanute,andjusthinkingthatshedidntknosheodobecauseeverythingshelovedalsaroundherandguinevereboth,and
leanedoverclose
hedidntsayanything,justsatthereshelteringtheandwhensanthacainaskinghey
goingtodayguineverejustdied”
”iorry,hope,”santhasaid,softlynoloseby
”oldher”totakethebus
today
”hopedidnthearanansartedcryingagain,becausetheantha
theonesheedjustthentheonesheedwasholdinghertight
ifanyonehadtoldjackthataandhisfirbr >
tingfireoplankstobuilda
tinyffinforacat,hettedbutitseed
likethebestthingtodo
hopesatonthegroundnearbyguineverehewashwobabyafghanthatrachelhadcrochetedandthathopehadslepthforthefirsteightyearsofherlifetattersandall,itwasherprizedpossessiononceshe,shestoppedcryingshe
heldherbundleasthoughitweregold
jarto
nail
allffinwasfinished,hedugagr
