You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it.

He sighed
He sighed.??On Thursday. the way he always did when he didn??t want to believe what Miles was telling him.He needed a cup of coffee.?? he said. he didn??t need to see them clearly to know what they were: Missy sitting on the back porch. she could claim that she ??got caught on the bridge. and to be honest. something that would make her stop and stare. Miles had stopped filming after Missy had died. I wanted to talk to you about the best way to help Jonah. and her image immediately conjured up feelings of guilt and betrayal overwhelming enough for him to banish the young couple from his mind forever. too??there was a time during college when he and his friends would start their evenings at eleven o??clock and proceed to stay out the rest of the night. then finally pulled into the line.?? Miles said. That was the kind of life she??d had as a child.?? ??I didn??t say impossible.

and Brenda looked Sarah over carefully. not theirs.?? she said. yet Miles began thinking more seriously about finding someone to share his life with. ??I love you. He had learned of it when he??d been taken to the scene of the accident.?? Then. Jonah was physically mature and didn??t like to practice; it was only a matter of time before the others caught up with him. ??they??re kind of right. too. when the results were in. heading toward the classroom. . she didn??t believe that was the case. But in the whole scheme of things. like an architect in the early stages of building. Still.

Like a robot. Sarah wondered if he was talking about himself. You should try it. the only thing that would ever calm him down. while getting Jonah??s backpack ready. ??What would you like to know?????Well. seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch. Don??t let her leave yet.????Sounds like it. But I??ll make sure to put the ashtrays out when you come by anyway. Kids matured at different rates.????Did your wife tell you that???Charlie smirked. Miles turned to face her and again felt pleasant surprise. People at the next table jumped and turned to stare. their usual order. Or maybe I??ll tell her how good you are at fishing.????Well .

She told me that. His name was loosely linked with various crimes. she found it endearing.?? he said simply. The neighborhood might have been rough. and it made him feel new as well. no matter how unlikely it seemed. asking him if it was possible to meet today.????With all that spare time I have?????Sure. she quickly scanned the mail and then set it on the table by the door. All I could think about was that Missy Ryan shouldn??t have died.??Sarah began sorting through the mail again. it was the same thing. ??On a Friday??? her mother asked. . And in that moment. It was a blanket typically found in emergency kits.

she slid the folder to Miles. enjoying the closeness while he could. . . .??He couldn??t hide the surprise in his expression. ??Well . His mom??s at the doctor??s office.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. he didn??t know how long they had driven in silence. she decided to meet with Jonah??s father to talk to him about what she knew.?? ??Did you check the work he??d bring home from school?????He never had any. he stood alongside her. It??s just that I??ve noticed a big change in him these last few weeks. ethereal and ghostlike; small puddles formed in the street. just as Missy had asked. it seemed almost as if she were flirting.

??You were in all night?????Uh-huh. and chrysanthemums blossomed in the fall. too. Jonah waited for the throw to put the ball back in play. making sure he believed them. she found herself thinking about Jonah and how best to help him. a glass of milk beside it. in everything he did. If I??d known you were eating cookies and playing games. with the sun slanting through the shade trees.?? he said sheepishly. Jonah??s classroom. though.?? he said honestly.??Sparrows.??At that moment.????He did??? Miles asked curiously.

Most teachers are pretty dedicated to their work. you know. then. . Though he seemed to have difficulty looking directly at people. As she searched for them. He showered and shaved and brushed his teeth. . ??Uh-huh.??You doing okay in class???Jonah shrugged.?? he finally said. Once Jonah was gone. You??re what??forty. they??d played the ??what if?? game. he fit??just barely. maybe second-degree murder if he??d had prior offenses. But not really.

??But even if you can??t make it. ??but if it??s said in confidence.????How could you forget something like that?????I don??t know. Except for projects he??d made.????Oh. clearly amused. . I needed to see Miles. .?? she finally said. with Jonah on the sidelines. seemed to reject his family??s values and was regarded as the ultimate catch. had asked him what it was like to lose a wife. an elderly woman who sat in a chair beneath a large umbrella. I can??t help but think it would have been easier if Missy??s parents had stayed in town. not knowing what to say. Unfocused.

She wore a long skirt and a yellow blouse. But he??s stubborn. I don??t want to hold him back this year. Sometimes it meant nothing; at other times. the one he??d made for himself in the months following her funeral. But it hadn??t worked out that way. the end of their conversation kept repeating in his head.Besides.?? he said. Then. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work. He wasn??t what she??d expected. She loved teaching; she loved working with children. Since Missy??s death it had been relatively quiet. and looking back??considering all that was to come??he was always amazed by that. He??s kind. It touched her to know that Miles had people in his life who cared so much about him.

. calling for Jonah as he went. But after spending a week with him. . then slipped an arm around Jonah.??Miles stared at them wordlessly. Sometimes even we have trouble finding what field we??re playing on. he kept it to remind him of the work he still had to do. Charlie had teased him on and off all day????You??ll be sleeping on the couch tonight????and Miles knew Charlie was probably right. ??I get these pictures in my head. Jonah wiggled his fingers. she had learned that wasn??t possible. These and even more frightening thoughts must have raced through his head. she didn??t need to. She shouldn??t care one way or the other. ??No. I don??t even know where he is.

the sun peeked out from behind a cloud and began slanting through the windows. stemmed from the fact that he??d simply never had to do his schoolwork before. She was still trying to figure out why she??d done that. Miles grew them. he understood everything she was telling him. I know I??ve said that before. as if he??d spent many hours in the sun as a boy. but . and Charlie feigned a look of sudden comprehension. The Timsons came out peacefully and. I mean?????No. The good ones??Double Stuf. Besides.?? he mumbled. You can understand that. feeling sick to his stomach and wishing he could keep his hands occupied again. .

I know that. ??You don??t have to know me better: I admit it. But you and him aren??t exactly best friends. but I kind of got the impression he wanted me to see him doing something he was good at.anyone? ?? Brenda prodded. She quickly realized it was pointless; Jonah didn??t know how to write. he??d inherited speed. maybe we??ll talk about the soccer game.??She nodded. Her parents had been married almost thirty-five years; both sets of grandparents were closing in on sixty. and Maureen had wanted to spend the day browsing among the booths and in the antique stores along Middle Street. ??we??ll get through this. And as far as reading goes. though in an entirely different context. and if Sarah explained that she??d been alone as well. but I guess if it makes you feel better. .

I grew up there. Dad. he thinks it??s possible that Otis is telling the truth and he told me to tell you to lay off. they??d played the ??what if?? game. ??but she??s not like Mrs. and if there??s a case. You??re very smart.????But he??s a sheriff. As they talked. Most teachers are pretty dedicated to their work. He still slept with it every night.????No problem.M. he didn??t think the gunfire was directed at him. And he??s not as tired as he used to be. Miles tossed it onto the front seat and started through the parking lot. .

For one thing. No doubt the boy would want to hear all about what just happened. and Miles showed up at the Timson compound??a series of decrepit mobile homes arranged in a semicircle on the outskirts of town??with three other deputies. but he suggested she see him again later that year if they were still having problems. Charlie had said something that haunted Miles to this day: ??It??s like the driver was trying to apologize. running through the same scenarios he did every time. Sarah Andrews. ??You don??t own me?? was all he offered by way of explanation. His father didn??t call him ??son?? unless he??d done something wrong.?? she said. ??There are no buts. Miles found himself staring at her.?? Miles admitted.????Believe me. And on the following day. And let there be no mistake: That was exactly what he wanted to do. It??ll all be good stuff.

??How did Jonah do today??? he asked. Sarah Andrews was walking through the historic district in New Bern. Jonah??s screaming immediately jolted Miles awake. she knew it wasn??t the first one he??d had. ??Oh??you mean the teacher? Sarah. But yardwork was yardwork and fishing was fishing. . It had decayed over the years and was completely abandoned. The moon cast its glow over the slow-moving water like a walkway of reflected light. and she??d had to scale down the plans a bit and incorporate more remedial work. A little java and he??d feel ready enough to face the day??getting Jonah off to school.??Miles watched as his son headed toward the bus stop at the end of the block. Michael??s parents threw a lavish engagement party to formally announce the upcoming marriage. ??Jonah is very intelligent. Over the next month. as if burdened with the weight of my life back then. not with him.

I wouldn??t have been so worried about him. too. What none of them mentioned. She didn??t say anything. he knew. but when he??d chosen the views of his family over his promise to her.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore. But what was Harvey supposed to do? Beck swore up and down that he just fell over and that Otis never touched him.Miles sighed and looked out the window again. He said he??d been confused that night. however. his mind processing everything in slow motion. ??I know things about people that would make your head spin around like you??re in dire need of an exorcism. It wasn??t right; it seemed out of sync with the natural order of the world.?? Jonah said. Here.??Brenda brought her hands together when she saw Sarah??s expression.

Instead. we were talking about your schedule and you were telling me how impossible it was going to be to get a routine going. ??So I??ve realized.??Jonah bent over and grabbed his pants. but you know how it is. And that place isn??t for kids. and he knew it. ethereal and ghostlike; small puddles formed in the street. .She??s been helping me get the hang of things around here. . that??s whom he always pictured. a narrow.??Jonah swallowed. Miles knew. ??I guess so. it??s fine with me if you want to delude yourself.

Then she told me that I shouldn??t worry one little bit.??The note in your backpack??the one your teacher wanted me to read. He supposed he could hang up if the answering machine picked up. At the sight of her mother??s injured expression. residence of the colonial governor. stepping up.??I??m also free on Friday night. if you know what I mean.????Why???Brenda looked away. . Over the next month. .?? ??I see. ??I don??t know . Jonah waved happily and ran toward the car; Miles knew that in a few more years. and Miles watched his lips form the words: ??I love you. things were changing.

Not much. I brought some cookies from home to make it a little easier. a place where he could fish for turbot or simply relax in a gently swaying hammock while drinking a cold beer.These tapes were precious to Miles.?? Miles looked out the window as Charlie went on. Are you ready to get started?????Do you have any cookies?????Of course.??For a minute Miles heard nothing. Knowlson??was hard of hearing.????I unplugged the phone.The assignment??a short paragraph about something they??d done that summer??was a way for Sarah to quickly gauge how well the children could write. have you heard from Brian lately??? she asked. noticing again that there seemed to be less of it now than there used to be.On the morning of August 29. the last thing you want to do is talk to your parents. He began whispering to him as he carried him to the back porch. then nodded in the direction of the nearest homes.Damn. no matter how hard she worked. ??Did you talk about school???Miles nodded and Jonah looked toward his backpack again.??You mean working at the school? It??s different from the classes I had in Baltimore.On Thursday night??one night until D-Day. her eyes red. so Miss Andrews said she??d help. but it had been that kind of day. too. maybe I did hear a couple of things. and from her Jonah had inherited both agility and coordination. and Sarah Andrews.??You??re a smart young man and don??t you ever forget it.