第19部分 (第7/8页)

don't　they？”

David　tried　to　grab　it　back；　but　my　father　said；　“We'll

take　it　outside　later。　The　wind　will　blow　it　for　you；”　and　pressed　the　puzzle　back　in　his　hands。

As　the　wrapping　paper　fell　in　shreds　on　the　floor；　I　leaned　in　to　see　what　sort　of　puzzle　my

father　had　bought　him　and　gasped。　Three　thousand

pieces！　And　the　image　was　simply　white　clouds　and　blue　sky。　No　shading；　no　trees—nothing

but　the　clouds　and　the　sky。

My　father　pointed　to　a　spot　in　the　center　of　the　ceiling。　“I　thought　it　would　fit　just　right　over

there。”

Uncle　David　looked　up　and　nodded；　then　lunged　for　his　pinwheel　and　said；　“Owsiiide？”

“Sure。　Let's　go　out　for　a　walk。　Feel　like　going　down　to　McElliot's　for　a　birthday　ice　cream？”

Uncle　David's　head　bobbed　up　and　down。　“Yaaah！”

We　checked　out　through　Josie；　then　headed　down　the　street。　David　can't　walk　very　fast

because　his　body　seems　to　want　to　move　inward　instead

of　forward。　His　feet　pigeon…toe　and　his　shoulders　hunch　in；　and　he　seemed　to　lean　on　my

father　pretty　heavily　as　we　moved　along。

But　he　kept　that　pinwheel　in　front　of　him；　watching　it　spin；　crying　every　now　and　then；

“Oange；　oange！”

McElliot's　turned　out　to　be　a　drugstore　with　an　ice　cream　parlor　inside。　There　was　a　red…and…

white…striped　awning　over　the　ice　cream　counter；

and　there　were　little　white　tables　and　chairs　set　in　an　area　with　red…and…white…stripe