It was up to him to pay back to the world in beauty and caring what Leslie had loaned him in vision and strength.
As for the terrors ahead—for he did not fool himself that they were all behind him—
well, you just have to stand up to your fear and not let it squeeze you white. Right, Leslie? Right.
Bill and Judy came back from Pennsylvania on Wednesday with a U-Haul truck. No one ever stayed long in the old Perkins place.
“We came to the country for her sake. Now that she’s gone...”
They gave Jesse all of Leslie’s books and her paint set with three pads of real watercolor paper. “She would want you to have them,” Bill said.
Jess and his dad helped them load the U-Haul, and noontime his mother brought down ham sandwiches and coffee,
a little scared the Burkes wouldn’t want to eat her food, but needing, Jess knew, to do something.
At last the truck was filled, and the Aaronses and the Burkes stood around awkwardly, no one knowing how to say good-bye.
“Well,” Bill said. “If there’s anything we’ve left that you want, please help yourself.”
“Could I have some of the lumber on the back porch?” Jess asked.
“Yes, of course. Anything you see.” Bill hesitated, then continued.
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