"I am. I didn't have any friends like you back at the mansion and probably still won't."
"Yeah, maybe," she relented. "Well. maybe I'll do you a favor and visit."
"Will you? Please."
"If Granddad takes off the ball and chain." "What do you mean?"
"Lets me go. stupid." She smiled. "What are you going to be like when your brain catches up with your body. huh?"
"I don't know."
"I do. You going to have lots of boys' names to write on your shoes. You just make sure they don't write your name on theirs. hear?"
"Okay."
"Okay," she mimicked, then took me by surprise and hugged me quickly.
She turned and went back into the house. "You know why I'm coming to see you, don't you?" she asked, holding the door open. I shook my head. "I want to meet that weird brother of yours. I think I'd like him. You tell him I'm coming and you tell him I read his letters and I'm still coming, understand?'"
I nodded.
"I'll look after your... great-aunt," she said and closed the door. "And make sure your granddad feeds Miss Puss." I shouted.
Lester Marshall stepped back from the limousine and looked my way. I stepped off the porch. patted Bones on his head, and hurried to the limousine. Felix was still standing by the door, waiting. Ike smiled at me. and I got in. Nancy was sitting up front.
"You okay?" my father asked when I slid in and Felix closed the door.
"Yes, Daddy."
"Your friend can come visit you know." "I told her."
"Good."
Felix got in and started the engine. Lester stood there looking at us with his arms folded as the limousine started down the driveway. I turned and looked back at his house. Alanis had come out again and was standing on the small porch, watching us. She couldn't see I was looking back because of the tinted windows, but I saw her slowly lift her right hand to wave. Then she realized what she was doing, dropped her arm to her side and rushed back into the house,
The car turned at the base of the driveway and we were off.
"When is Great-aunt Frances coming home?" I asked my father.
"Very soon. I've arranged for someone to stay with her for a while," he said. 'She needs a full-time housekeeper and companion. I'm informing your grandmother."
"What about Mommy?" I asked. "We'll go see her."
"And Ian?"
"Ian hasn't been well. Jordan, so he's been moved to a different facility." He smiled quickly. "I understand he's doing better already, complaining and offering suggestions for improvements."
"He is?"
"Yes."
"Can I visit him. too?"
"We'll see. I have to get you organized first, get you enrolled in your school again," he said. "I'm making all the calls today after we're home."
"You are?"
He started to speak, then stopped and glanced out the window for a moment. "Yes." he said, still looking out the window. "It's time I accepted who I am."