:54:02
He'd go on and on sitting
there smoking his old pipe.
:54:08
Sometimes he'd say, "Let's go
to a movie this evening, "or
:54:13
"What about ice cream
for dinner today? "
:54:17
But all I wanted was to die.
:54:25
So the days and weeks passed.
:54:29
We shared the
loneliness quite well.
:54:32
We didn't have much to say
:54:35
but I never disturbed him.
:54:39
Sometimes he'd look worried.
I didn't know then
:54:41
that he was always short of money.
But whenever I'd come
:54:46
clumping along, his
face would brighten,
:54:50
and he'd pat me
with his pale little hand.
:54:55
Or else Uncle Otto would be sitting
on the sofa, drinking brandy.
:55:01
They'd mumble to each other.
:55:04
I wonder if they heard
what they said.
:55:07
Or else Uncle Harry would be
there and they'd play chess,
:55:12
and then it'd be extra quiet.
:55:17
I could hear three
different clocks ticking.
:55:24
A few days before
you were due home
:55:27
I'd get a temperature
from the excitement.
:55:30
I'd worry I might
really get sick,
:55:33
because you were
afraid of sick people.
:55:37
When you did come,
I was so happy
:55:41
I couldn't say anything.
You'd get impatient and say,
:55:46
"Eva doesn't seem very pleased
to have her mother home again. "
:55:51
I'd blush red as a beet
and break out in a sweat.
:55:57
I couldn't say anything,
I had no words.