paper　towels。

〃Hey；　Dad。〃　I　flashed　him　a　grin。

Shock　flitted　across　his　face　before　he　pulled　his　expression　together。　〃Hey；

honey；〃　he　said；　his　voice

uncertain。　〃Did　you　have　fun　with　Jacob？〃

I　started　moving　the　food　to　the　table。　〃Yeah；　I　did。〃

〃Well；　that's　good。〃　He　was　still　cautious。　〃What　did　you　two　do？〃

Now　it　was　my　turn　to　be　cautious。　〃I　hung　out　in　his　garage　and　watched　him

work。　Did　you　know　he's

rebuilding　a　Volkswagen？〃

〃Yeah；　I　think　Billy　mentioned　that。〃

The　interrogation　had　to　stop　when　Charlie　began　chewing；　but　he　continued　to

study　my　face　as　he　ate。

After　dinner；　I　dithered　around；　cleaning　the　kitchen　twice；　and　then　did　my

homework　slowly　in　the　front

room　while　Charlie　watched　a　hockey　game。　I　waited　as　long　as　I　could；　but

finally　Charlie　mentioned　the

late　hour。　When　I　didn't　respond；　he　got　up；　stretched；　and　then　left；　turning

out　the　light　behind　him。

Reluctantly；　I　followed。

As　I　climbed　the　stairs；　I　felt　the　last　of　the　afternoon's　abnormal　sense　of

well…being　drain　from　my

system；　replaced　by　a　dull　fear　at　the　thought　of　what　I　was　going　to　have　to

live　through　now。

I　wasn't　numb　anymore。　Tonight　would；　no　doubt；　be　as　horrific　as　last　night。

I　lay　down　on　my　bed　and

curled　into　a　ball　in　preparation　for　the　onslaught。　I　squeezed　my　eyes　shut

and　the　next　thing　I　next　I

knew；　it　was　morning。

I　stared　at　the　pale　silver　light　ing　through　my　window；　stunned。

For　the　first　time　in　more　than　four　months；　I'd　slept　without　dreaming。

Dreaming　or　screaming。　I　couldn't

tell　which　emotion　was　stronger—the　relief　or　th