Part 27 (1/2)
”Sorry!” I slamthedoorclosed
”Grayer,who's that?” I ask
”That's CarsonSpender She's stayingtheweekend”
”O-kay” Just then I hear a car pull up the gravel drive I go over to theand watch Mr X direct a Range Rover around to the side of the house 1 walk down the hall to the dingy clerestoryfacingthe oceanand see the car pull in next to four others parked by the overgrown hedgeThere are at leasttenchildrenonthebacklawn
”Grover?” I call, and he co down the hall I heave him up so he can see out the
”Whoarethosekids?”
”I dunno They're just kids” I kiss him on the top of his head and put him down as the bathroodownstairs
”G,whydon't youheaddownand I'll changequickly?”
”I wanttostaywith you,”hesays, followingme backintoour room
”Okay,youcanstandoutsidethedoor”I trytocloseit
”Nanny,youknowI don't likethat” I pullitback,soit's barely cracked,andpulloffmyshorts ”Nanny?
Canyouhearersunderthedoor
”Nanny, try to catch ers! Coentlyticklethetipsofhis fingerswith lesat that first hen he lockedthitikin outta,too,andyoucan't seeit”
”Noyoudon't, silly”
”HowdoyouknowI don't?”
”You'd never,Nanny Hurryup, I'll showyouthepool It's reallyreallyfreezing!”
Out back arein lawn dresses, all standinglike traffic cones aschildrenwhiz chaotically aroundtheme outtohermather
”Oh, Nanny, there you are,” Mrs X says ”We should all be beack around six There's plenty of stuff in thefridgeforlunchHavefun!”
A chorus of ”Have a greattiuys!” erupts aroundus astheadults headover to theircars, which take off,carseatsempty
I look down at twelve expectant faces, as visions of an afternoon on the chaises quickly disappears
”Okay, guys, I'oes near the pool Is that clear? I don't want to seeanybody going past thattree over there or you will sit in the broom closet for the rest of the afternoonGotit?”Twelve headsnodsoleoforsafetywasbythepooland?
”What's yournalasses
”Ronald”
”Ronald, no o to the shed Okay, everyone, go play!” I run inside, looking out everyI pass totoward the pool, to find Grayer's artkit
I set up crayons, construction paper, and scotch tape on the patio table ”Okay, listen up! I want you all tocomeover here,oneat atiirlinOshKoshB'Goshtells ”1” on her i and then tape it to her shi+rt ”Okay,Arden, you're one Everytime I callout 'Headcount!'youshout 'One!'Gotthat?All youhaveto remember is 'one'” She cli me the tapeand pens, alternately
For an hour everyone runs around on the grass, some play with Grayer's toys, others just chase each other,while I look out atthefog-covered oceanEvery fifteenminutes I call out ”HEADCOUNT!” and theysoundoff
”One!”
”Two!”
”Three!”
Silence 1 tensetorundowntothepool
”Jessy,you're four,dummy”
”Four!” a small voice squeaks
”Five!”
”Six!”
”Seven!”
”Grayer!”
”Nine!”
”Ten!”
”Eleven!”
”Twelve!”
”Okay, ti them outside while I inspect the supplies ”Everyone inside!”
”A!”