d

wallpaper。　It　was　very　festive…looking；　especially　for　being

inside　a　drugstore。

Dad　got　us　all　cones；　and　once　we　were　sitting　down；　Dad　and　David　did　talk　to　each　other

some；　but　mostly　David　wanted　to　eat　his　chocolate

fudge　swirl。　My　father　smiled　at　me　from　time　to　time；　and　I　smiled　back；　but　I　felt

disconnected。　How　many　times　had　the　two　of　them　e　here　for

ice　cream？　How　many　birthdays　had　my　father　celebrated　with　his　brother　like　this？　How

long　had　he　known　Mabel　and　Josie　and　the　rest　of　the

people　at　Greenhaven？　How　could　it　be　that　in　all　these　years；　I'd　never　spent　any　time　with

my　uncle？　It　was　like　my　father　had　a　secret　life　away

from　me。　A　plete　family　away　from　me。

I　didn't　like　it。　Didn't　understand　it。　And　I　was　getting　myself　pretty　worked　up　about　it　when

David's　cone　crushed　in　his　grip；　causing　his　ice

cream　to　flop　onto　the　table。

Before　my　dad　could　stop　him；　David　picked　up　the　ice　cream　and　tried　t