Part 20 (2/2)
”I don't really know anything about you, Wiley. I remember you as that long-haired boy who used to come and play with Kayla when y'all were both little. I knew your mother and father. Then there was that summer when you came back from Ole Miss and you and Kayla started hanging around again. She was always very sweet on you, and always said you were such a sweet boy, the perfect gentleman. I thought you would be able to pull her away from that crowd she was running with, but of course that didn't happen. Her father forced her to have the baby, thinking it would settle her down, but she's just as willful as he is. He was stunned when she walked out on you and the baby. He felt responsible. He couldn't believe his own daughter would do such a thing.”
She paused, smiled at me.
”I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't really know you, Wiley, but I'd like to. Instead of listening to my husband tell me who you are, I thought I'd come and find out for myself. Do you suppose it's too late for something like that?”
”It's never too late,” I said, amazed at her painful honesty. ”And I meant what I said. I would love for you to be part of Noah's life.”
We watched Noah for a while in silence.
”He's so fragile-looking,” she said quietly.
”He's stronger than he looks.”
”He's so small.”
”His growth might pick up,” I said.
We watched Noah once more. He was reading a graphic novel, his eyes scanning the pages, puzzling out words but relying on the pictures to convey the gist of the story.
”Why don't I call him over?” I suggested.
”I don't know what to say to him.”
”I'll translate for you. Just say h.e.l.lo. It's not that hard.”
She put a hand to her throat again as if to consider this.
Without waiting, I got up and fetched Noah.
I'm talking to Mrs. W-a-r-r-e-n. She's your grandmother. Would you like to say h.e.l.lo?
He dropped the graphic novel he was looking at and jumped up, his face beaming with a huge smile that perfectly displayed his bad teeth.
I took his hand and led him to her.
”h.e.l.lo!” Noah squawked.
”h.e.l.lo, Noah,” Mrs. Warren said, standing up and peering down at him awkwardly. Then she crouched down to get a better view. She put her hands on his shoulders rather tentatively. ”I've been wanting to meet you for a long time,” she said as a tear slipped from her eye.
Why is she crying? he signed to me, alarmed. he signed to me, alarmed.
She's happy to meet you.
”I love you,” Noah proclaimed.
”Ai of ewe....”
She smiled.
”I love you, too,” she said.
She looked up to me for help.
I signed to Noah: Let's teach her how to sign, okay? Let's teach her how to sign, okay?
He grinned and nodded.
31) What are you wearing?
NOAH POPPED POPPED Monsters, Inc. Monsters, Inc. into the DVD player as soon as we got home, and I fished out my phone and called Jackson Ledbetter. into the DVD player as soon as we got home, and I fished out my phone and called Jackson Ledbetter.
”How do you feel about nude camping?” I asked straight off.
”As in camping while nude?”
”Something like that.”
”I'll try anything once.”
”Good boy.”
”When would you like to go?”
”We usually go Friday afternoon, head out to Mama's house, take the horses.”
”Horses?”
”Those things with long legs and big teeth. You can ride them and stuff.”
”I know what horses are!”
”You off this weekend?”
”I get off Friday at noon. I can get my stuff and meet you at your house. I don't have to be back to work till early Monday morning.”
”We'll get you back in time.”
”Good deal. Who's we?”
”Me and the cheese-eater. We love camping. We'll do some fis.h.i.+ng, too, and we're pretty serious about that because there won't be any dinner if we don't catch anything.”
”Sounds like fun.”
”So what are you wearing?”
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