Part 3 (1/2)
”Exactly,” she said, getting to her feet ”And I' to est breakfast you ever ate”
”That's enough,” I said ”I won't have to eat for a week now”
She smiled ”That was the idea” She put the empty plates in the sink and refilled the coffee cups ”Do you knohere you're going?”
I shook my head ”Not really South first, then ”
”You wiU be careful?”
I nodded
”There are all kinds of people on the road”
”I'll be okay”
”Will you write and let me kno you are?”
”Sure But don't worry”
'I will/' she said If there's any trouble, you'll call me?”
CoUect”
''Collect” She slanced at the kitchen clock It was a quarter to seven ”I'd better get going”
She looked up at ”
”What do youto be a bride, then too young to be ato be aand alone”
”Everybody has to grow up sometime,” I said ”Maybe this is your ti He had that sas” A strange look came over her face ”Are you really my son, Jonathan? Or are you just an extension of him that he implanted inelse”
”Do you love me?”
I was silent for a moment Then I took her hand and kissed it ”Yes, Mother”
”Do you have enough hed I had almost one hundred dollars At ten dollars a week, I had no sweat ”Yes, Mother”
I slung the backpack over my shoulders and went down the driveway When I hit the still-sleeping street, I looked back Mother was standing in the doorway She waved toalready held the prorabbing the early worms, and their chatter was reen US
1 was a e over Schuylkill Creek
The Dairihome Milk truck turned the comer just as I did Pete stopped the truck when he saw me 'Jonathan!”
I turned and waited while he clie juice in one hand, a can of beer in the other 'Traveler's choice,” he said
I took the beer It was a goodinto me He put the OJ back into the truck and took another can of beer for himself We pulled the tabs at the sa was the only one on the street
He took a deep draft, then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand ”Sorry for your trouble,” he said Pete was Irish
I nodded
''Where you off to?”
”Don't exactly know Just off”
He nodded ”Good thing to get away Your h lady”
He studied ht that over Pete had known us for a long time Fifteen years Finally he answered ”Yes”
I finished the beer and cru will you be gone?”
”Seven weeks”
”shi+t!” He grinned ”That's eighty-four quarts There goes hed ”Leave the two quarts anyway My ht not But I'll bet that Maet there” He went back into the truck He fished around for a moment, then caonna be a hot day”
”Thanks”
He looked at onna miss your father” He touched the union button on his white coveralls 'He made this mean a lot I only hope your brother does half as well”
''He'll do better than that,” I said
Again he looked at me for a moment ”We'll see But he's not your father''
”Who is?”
”You are,” he said
I stared at hih”
”So”
He put the truck into Drive, and I watched it go out of sight around the comer Then I crossed the street