Part 18 (2/2)
Hecollapses,shakingwith theforceofhis tears ”Mydaddy's somad,he's so in his ear as I rock hiood boy nobody is mad at you Your daddy's not mad at you Your mommy's not mad at you We all love you so much, Grove”
I carryhiwith thetie
”I want,” he gasps, his breath coently around his neck andhelphi a pillowforhimwith mysweater
”Sih-muh?AreyouSih-muh?” thewoman fromthebathroomasks
”Yes?”
”Your Darwinisontheslidebyhiraciously
”Byhiain,asifSima isdeaf
”Okay,thankyou”Sioes over tomakesureDarwin doesn't somehowhurt himself onthethree-footslide,whileI rubGrayer's backashefallsasleep
I watch as she reaches out a hand to help Darwin place his legs over the top in preparation for his descent He rejectsher offerbyshsandflies downtheslide She stands for a moment with both hands on her head and then walks slowly back to our table and sits down
”Darwin seems a little intense,” I say Actually, he seems like a potential homicidal maniac, but she must have stayed for a reason and ten dollars an hour isn't enough to subject oneself to gross bodily harer because he has a new baby brother at home” She reaches up to rubher head
”Haveyouever talkedtothemabouthowhehits you?” I asktentatively
”No Well, they are so busy with the new baby And he can be a very good boy” She takes little breaths asshespeaksThisishardlythefirstti the shi+t kicked out of her by an angry child Clearly she doesn't want to talk about it, so I change the topic
”You havesuch abeautifulaccent” I foldupthewrapperfrommycupcakeinto alittle square
”I o”Shewipesherhandswith a napkin
”Doyoustill havefamilythere?” I ask
”Well, myhusbandandsonsarethere”Sheblinks acoupleoftiether, to find work I was an engineer in San Salvador But there were no more jobsand we hopedtoreencard andhadtogo backwith oursons,becauseI couldnotworkandtakecareofthem”
”Howoftendoyouseethem?” I askasGrayer shi+ftsfitfully inhis sleep
”I trytogohome forteeksatChristmastime, butthis year 1 73
Mr andMrs ZuckerotoFrance”ShefoldsandunfoldsDarwin's sweater
”Do you have pictures of your children? I bet they're beautiful” I am not sure what the positive spin is on this situation or where to take this conversation I know if my mom were here she would have alreadyrolledSiledhertothefirst safehouseshecouldfind
”No,I don't keep a pictureonme It's toohard” Shesmiles ”SomedaywhenGrayer comes toplay atDarwin's house,I will showyouthenWhataboutyou? Doyouhavechildren?”
”NoMe?No,thankGod”We bothlaugh
”Aboyfriend,then?”
”I'in totell her about H H We shareslices of our own stories, theparts of our lives the Zuckermans and the Xes neither partake in nor know about, ahts and colors, surrounded by a cacophony of screa s and I tuckfeet beneath me while she rests her chin on her outstretched arher degree than I will ever receive, in a subject I can't get a passinggradein,andwhohasbeenhomeless thanonemonthinthelasttwenty-four
For the past week I've been arriving at seven to dress Grayer for school, before dropping hi es fros andisoutevery afternoon,soI wassurprisedwhenConnietoldformeinher office
”Mrs X?” I knockonthedoor
”Coht trepidation, but find her seated at the desk, fully dressed in a cashanandslacks Despiteherbestefforts with creahoreen paint so I brought hisandshemotionsforme tostay
”hello?Oh, hi, JoyceNo, the letters haven't couess”
Her voice still sounds hollow ”All the schools she applied to? Really? That's fabulousWell, which one are you going to choose?Well, I don't know as htdecisionExcellent Bye”
She turns back to ot into every school she applied to I don't get it, she isn't even cuteWhatwere you saying?”
”The paint on't worry, he wasn't wearing the Collegiate sweatshi+rt when it happened He made a reallybeautifultreepicture?
”Doesn't hehave a changeofclothesatschool?”
”Yeah,I'lueonhiottoreplaceit”
”Whatif hehadn't hadtiittomorrow”I starttoleave
”Oh, Nanny?” I stick ot you, I need to have a talk with you about Grayer's applicationsWhereis he?”
”He's watchingConniedust”Your chair-railestures to one of theupholsteredwing chairs across froterribletotellyou”Shecasts her eyes downtoherhandstwisting inherlap
I can't breathe I braceot so to get the words out ”Grayer gotrejectedfroiate”
”No”I quicklywipe thelookofreliefoffmyface ”I don't believe it”
”I know t's just awful And, to make matters even worse, he's been wait-listed at St David's and St
Bernard's Wait-listed” She shakes her head ”So now our fingers are crossed for Trinity, but if, for so to be left with his safeties and I'eplacements atthoseschools”