she said. smiling. "I'm sure you'll cheer him up." As usual Uncle Linden's door was closed. I
knocked and waited, Mrs. Robinson had gone back to
her living quarters and was not in the corridor. I
knocked again and called to Uncle Linden. There was
still no response. Worried now, I opened the door. The room was in total darkness, but fortunately
the silvery sliver of moon gave us enough
illumination to see Uncle Linden sitting by the
window, gazing out.
"Uncle Linden?" I said. "Why are you sitting in
the dark?"
He did not turn. I glanced at Heyden, who
looked concerned himself now, and then I crossed the
room and touched Uncle Linden's left shoulder. He
shuddered and slowly turned his head toward me, "Willow? Have you come back?"
"No, Uncle Linden.
It's Hannah."
"Oh," he said, his voice going flat.
"Why are you sitting in the dark. Uncle
Linden?"
"Am I?" he asked. "I guess I didn't realize how
long I've been sitting here."
Heyden found the light switch and snapped on
the overhead fixture and the lamp in the corner. Uncle
Linden blinked rapidly and smiled.
"Well," he said after a deep breath. "You're all
right then?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Uncle Linden," I replied. "It's
been very sad at home."
"Yes, I know." he said. He glanced out the
window again. "I was just thinking of Java del Mar.