Cheerios　back　to　my　room　to　have　breakfast　in　bed　and

read。

But　that　Sunday—after　spending　most　of　the　night　feeling　upset　or　uneasy—I　woke　up

wanting　to　do　something　physical。　To　shake　off　the

confused　way　I　was　still　feeling。

What　I　really　needed　was　a　good　climb　in　my　sycamore　tree；　but　I　settled　for　watering　the

lawn　while　I　tried　to　think　of　other　things。　I　cranked　open

the　spigot　and　admired　how　rich　and　black　the　dirt　looked　as　I　sprinkled　back　and　forth

across　the　soil。　And　I　was　busy　talking　to　my　buried

seedlings；　coaxing　them　to　spring　up　and　greet　the　rising　sun；　when　my　father　came　outside。

His　hair　was　damp　from　a　shower；　and　he　had　a

grocery　sack　rolled　closed　in　his　hand。　“Dad！　I'm　sorry　if　I　woke　you。”

“You　didn't；　sweetheart。　I've　been　up　for　a　while。”

“You're　not　going　to　work；　are　you？”

“No；　I　…”　He　studied　me　for　a　moment；　then　said；　“I'm　going　to　visit　David。”

“Uncle　David？”

He　walked　toward　his　truck；　saying；　“That's　right。　I　…I　s