第15部分 (第8/8页)

seen　him　had　been　through　windows—　either　one　in　their　sitting　room　or　one　in　their　car。　To

me　he　was　just　a　dark…haired　man　behind　glass。

Having　him　appear　on　my　sidewalk　was　like　having　someone　from　TV　step　through　the

screen　and　talk　to　you。

“I　know　we've　seen　each　other　from　time　to　time；”　he　was　saying。　“I'm　sorry　it's　taken　me　over

a　year　to　e　introduce　myself。　I'm　Chester

Duncan；　Bryce's　grandfather。　And　you；　of　course；　are　Julianna　Baker。”

He　stuck　out　his　hand；　so　I　took　off　my　work　glove　and　watched　my　hand　pletely

disappear　inside　his　as　we　shook。　“Nice　to　meet　you；　Mr。

Duncan；”　I　said；　thinking　that　this　man　was　way　bigger　than　he　looked　from　the　sitting…room

window。

Then　the　strangest　thing　happened。　He　pulled　his　own　work　gloves　and　a　pair　of　clippers

from　a　back　pocket　and　said；　“Are　you　pruning　all　of

these　to　the　same　height？”

“Oh；”　I　said。　“Well；　yes。　That　is　what　I　was　thinking。　Although　now　I　don't　know。　Do　you　think

it　would　look　bette