小说园

第19部分（第2页）

but　none　I　wanted　to　ask。　It　was　nice；　though；　riding　with　my　father。　It　was　like　the　silence

connected　us　in　a　way　that　explanations　never　could。

When　we　arrived　at　Greenhaven；　my　father　parked　the　truck；　but　we　didnt　get　out　right　away。

“It　takes　some　getting　used　to；　Julianna；　but　it　does

grow　on　you。　They　grow　on　you。　Theyre　all　good　people。”

I　nodded；　but　felt　oddly　afraid。

“e　on；　then；”　he　said；　taking　the　sack　from　the　seat。　“Lets　go　inside。”

Greenhaven　didnt　look　like　any　kind　of　hospital　to　me；　but　it　didnt　look　quite　like　a　house；

either。　It　was　too　long　and　rectangular　for　that。　The

walkway　had　a　faded　green　awning　that　covered　it；　and　flower　beds　alongside　with　freshly

planted　pansies　that　looked　muddied　and　slightly　askew。

The　grass　was　patchy；　with　three　deep　holes　dug　near　the　building。

“The　residents　tend　the　grounds；”　my　father　said。　“Its　part　of　their　occupational　training

program；　and　its　therapeutic。　Those　holes　are　the　future

homes　of　Peach；　Plum；　and　Pear。”

“Fruit　trees？”

“Yes。　The　vote　caused　quite　a　motion。”

“Among　the　…　residents？”

“Thats　right。”　He　swung　open　one　of　the　glass　double　doors　and　said；　“e　on　in。”

It　was　cool　inside。　And　it　smelled　of　pine　cleaner　and　bleach；　with　something　vaguely

pungent　underneath。

There　wasnt　a　reception　desk　or　waiting　area；　just　a　large　intersection　with　white　walls　and

narrow　wooden　benches。　To　the　left　was　a　big　room

with　a　television　and　several　rows　of　plastic　chairs；　to　the　right　were　open　office　doors；　and

beside　us　were　two　pine　armoires。　One　was　open；　with

half　a　dozen　gray　sweaters　hung　neatly　in　a　row。

“Good　morning；　Robert！”　a　woman　called　through　one　of　the　office　doors。

“Good　morning；　Josie；”　my　father　replied。

She　came　out　to　meet　us；　saying；　“Davids　up　and　about。　Has　been　since　around　six。　Mabel

tells　me　its　his　birthday　today。”

“Mabel　is　right　again。”　He　turned　to　me　and　smiled。　“Josie；　its　my　pleasure　to　introduce　my

daughter；　Julianna。　Julianna；　meet　Josie

………　Page　58………

Gruenmakker。”

“Well　now；　isnt　this　nice；”　Josie　said；　clasping　my　hand。　“I　recognize　you　from　Davids　photo