"I'm sorry." I said. "I probably ruptured your
eardrums."
"No. I loved listening to you. I think the
dancing you're doing sounds very exciting. By the
way, I don't know if I'd told you I applied to NYU
early admissions. but I did, and I've been accepted." "Oh Barry, that's wonderful. Congratulations.
You're still thinking of becoming a lawyer?" "Yes, but I'm thinking I want to be involved in
prosecution, maybe become a U.S. attorney
someday."
"You'll be whatever you want, I'm sure.' "So you," he countered. "I couldn't imagine
anyone saving no to you, Rose,"
I smiled. I was almost too excited to eat. The
food was delicious, but my stomach felt as if I had
just gotten off a roller coaster. In the last week I had
hit so many peaks and valleys emotionally, I wasn't
surprised.
Barry talked about some of the other kids I had
been somewhat friendly with, excluding Paula, of
course. Every time I brought up her name, he tried to
change the subject. Finally, he told me about some of
the arguments he had had and the fight he had gotten
into with Ed Wiley, which had resulted in his being in
detention for a week.
"Oh, no. You were such good friends. I hate to
be the cause of anything like that."
"You weren't. It was all Paula's fault, Let's just
talk about good things from now on. Rose," he said
quickly, letting me believe there were even more
gruesome and ugly details.
After dinner we rode back to the house slowly.