WhenIgothome, , asalways, ' tevenbothertoreadanymore, butseemedtospendhiswholelifejustwatchingtimeslipaway.
"Dad..."
Heturnedandlookedupatme, takingamomentortwotoregisterthatIwasn' ' , ...hestretchedouthishandandcalledtoher.
"Comeon, lass," hesaidsoftly."Iwon' thurtyou."
Atlast, sheventureduptohimandsniffedathisblanket.
"What' shername?" Dadaskedme.
"Sadie."
"Hello, Sadie."
Shesatbesidehim, ' dnevertiredofdoingthat, justashe' dnevertiredofpettingMeg.
"Sheneedsalotoflove," Isaidandexplainedwhy.
, toanimals, childrenorevenoveradults.
"Well," hesaidsoftly."We' ?"
"Well, I..."
"No, it' sallright." Dadpattedmyhand.", ' llbecompanyforyouandyou' ' ' tintendtospendtherestofmylifesittinghere!"
Itwasthefirsttimeinmonthshe' .
"Icouldn' tgofaratfirst," hewenton."ButifIgraduallybuildupmystrength..."
, hewaslaughing.
, ' .
Infact, inastrangeway, SadieseemedtotakeoverwhereMegleftoff.
Daddidn' ttakeheroutofthegarden, buthe' dwalkupanddownwithher, ' dgazeupathim, entranced.
YesterdaymarkedtheanniversaryofMeg' .
Thechildrenplantedsomesnowdropsbeneaththecherrytree, .
ThenthemiracleI' ' sleaddownfromitshook.
.
"Right, anyonecomingforawalk?"
He' .
"I' llcome." Matthewgrabbedforhiscoat.
"Andme." LaurawasalreadypushingherarmsintothesleevesofherJacket.
Istoodatthewindowandwatchedtheirslowprogressdowntheroad, DadinthemiddleholdingtighttoSadie' slead, , .
Iheldmybreath, thenrealizedhe' dstoppedbecausehewaslaughing! .
Ihurriedtothehall, pulledmycoatfromthepegandranoutside.
"Dad!" Iyelled.
Theystoppedandturned.
"Dad," Icalledagain, feelingallofsixyearsold."CanIcome?"
"Themorethemerrier," hecalledbackandheldouthisarms, justlikeheusedtowhenIwasalittlegirl.
Irantohim, heartpounding, knowingthatthistimehewouldn' tbeabletoliftmeandwhirlmeround.
