t;Hesthespitandimageofyou,withmaybealittleTessaroundtheeyes."

    UncleCharliesuckedonapopbottle,burpedsoftly."Theboylooksexactlylikeme.Allmygrandchildrendo."EddietotteredacrossthefloorboardsandthrewhimselfatCharlieslegs,andfindinghisbalance,heroaredlikeatiger.

    Ashegrewolder,EdwardlookedmorelikeanUngerlandthanaDay,butIdidmybesttohidethetruth.MaybeIshouldhaveexplainedalltoTess,andperhapsthatwouldhavebeentheendofmytorment.Butsheborethesnideremarksabouthersonwithgrace.Daysafterhissedbirthday,wehadOscarLoveandJimmyCummingsoverfordinner.Afterthemeal,wefooledaroundwithanarrahatIhadwrittenhopingtoiachamber-musicquartetiy.Ofcourse,wewereoneplayershort,withGeelonggoneinCalifornia.Butplayingwiththemagainafterafewyearswaseasyandfortable.Tessexcusedherselftogotothekittochealemuepie.WhenEdwardnoticedshewasgone,hewailedfromhisplaypen,banginghisfistsagainsttheslats.

    "Dontyouthitingabittoobigforthat?"Oscarasked.

    "Hebeabitoftroubleafterdinner.Besides,helikesitthere.Makeshimfeelsafe."

    OscarshookhisheadandfishedEdwardfrombehindthebars,bouncedhimonhisknees,ahimfihekeysoftheclari.Seeingmysinglefrieomyson,Icouldnthelpbutfeelthattheywereweighingtheirfreedomagainsttheallureoffamily.Theylovedtheboybutwereslightlyfrightenedofhimandallherepresented.

    "Drawntothestick,"Oscarsaid."Thatsonecoolkid.Youllwanttostayawayfromthepiano.Tooheavytocarryaround."

    "Surehesyours?"Cummingsasked."Helooksnoth