thought；　a　few

bushes　and　some　dilapidated　wood　couldn't　stop

someone's　best　and　brightest　blessing！　Surely　not！

And　with　that；　I　picked　up　the　clippers　and　got　to　work。

………　Page　47………

Half　an　hour　later　I　was　keeper　of　the　knowledge　that　one　bush　equals　many　branches；　and

that　the　volume　of　a　bush　increases　exponentially　as

it's　cut　and　tossed　into　the　middle　of　a　yard。　It　was　ridiculous！　Where　was　I　going　to　put　all

this　stuff？

Mom　came　home　and　tried　to　talk　me　out　of　my　mission；　but　I'd　have　none　of　it。　Oh；　no…no…no！

I'd　already　pruned　two　bushes　down　to　a

respectable　size；　and　before　long　she'd　see—　the　place　was　going　to　look　just　dandy。

“You　didn't　get　that　stubborn　streak　from　me；”　she　said；　but　came　back　outside　with　a　glass

of　juice　and　a　kiss　for　my　cheek。　Good　enough　for

me！By　the　end　of　that　first　day；　what　I'd　made　was　a　big　mess。　But　if　chaos　is　a　necessary

step　in　the　organization　of　one's　universe；　then　I　was　well

on　my　way。　At　least　that's　what　I　tried　to　tell　myself　when　I　flopped　into　bed　that　night；　dead

tired。

And　the　next　afternoon　I　was　busily　expanding　the　chaos　of　my　little　universe　when　I　heard　a

deep　voice　say；　“That's　quite　an　undertaking；　young

lady。”

The　man　standing　on　our　sidewalk　was　Bryce's　grandfather；　I　knew　that　much。　But　I'd　only

ever　seen　him　outside　one　time。　All　the　other　times　I'd

seen　him　had　been　through　windows—　either　one　in　their　sitting　room　or　one　in　their　car。　To

me　he　was　just　a　dark…haired　man　behind　glass。

Having　him　appear　on　my　sidewalk　was　like　having　someone　from　TV　step　through　the

screen　and　talk　to　you。

“I　know　we've　seen　e