snakingupherrighttemplethatflashedlikeasemaphoreforpassion,thesuddenexuberanceofhercrookedsmile.Tesssaidmynameandmadeitseemreal.

    Wedroveaway,andthewindthroughtheopenwindowcaughtherhairaacrossherface.Whenshelaughed,shethrewbackherhead,tothesky,andIlookissherlovelyneck.Idroveasifwehadadestination,butinourtowntherearticularplacetogo.Tessturneddowntheradio,aalkedawaytheafternoooldmeallaboutherlifeinpublicschool,thenontocollege,whereshehadstudiednursing.Itoldherallaboutparochialschoolandmyabortedstudiesinmusic.Afewmilesoutsideoftown,anewfried-chijointhadopely,soweboughtourselvesabucketful.WestoppedbyOscarstostealabottleofapplewine.Wepiickedonaschoolplayground,abandonedforthesummerexceptforapairofcardinalsonthemonkeybars,serenadinguswiththeireight-notesong.

    "Iusedtothinkyouwerethestrabird,HenryDay.ereiaryschooltogether,youmighthavesaidtwowordstome.Oranyone.Youweresodistracted,asifyouheardasonginyourheadthatnooneelsecouldhear."

    "Imstillthatway,"Itoldher."SometimeswhenImwalkingdowreetoramquietbymyself,Iplayatune,imaginemyfingersonthekeys,andhearthenotesasclearasday."

    "Youseemsomewhereelse,milesaway."

    "Notalways.Notnow."

    Herfacebrightenedandged."Strange,isntit?AboutOscarLove,thatboy.OrshouldIsaytwolittleboys,alikeastwopins."

    Itriedtogethesubject."Mysistersaretwins."

    "Howdoyouexplainit?"

    "Itsbeenalongtimesincehighschoolbiology,butwhenaneggd