non1997pel

@@@@@ For a little while we said nothing, only looked at the portrait while Elizabeth puffed like a choochoo trainAn old choo-choo train Then Wireman said: "There are many things I wonder about, EdgarSince coming to Duma Key, I have more questions than a four-year-old at bedtime But one thing I don't wonder about is why you want to stay hereIf I could do something like this, I'd want to stay here forever "Last year at this time I was doodling on phone pads while I was on hold," I saidTell me something, muchachoand thinking of all the other ones you've done since you startedwould you change the accident that took your arm? Would you change it, even if you could?" I thought of painting in Little Pink while The Bone pumped out hardcore rock and roll in thick chunksI thought of the Great Beach WalksI even 539 thought of the older Baumgarten kid yelling Yo, Mr Freemantle, nice chuck! when I spun the Frisbee back to himThen I thought of waking up in that hospital bed, how dreadfully hot I had been, how scattered my thoughts had been, how sometimes I couldn't even remember my own nameThe dawning realization (it came during The Jerry Springer Show), that part of my body was AWOLI had started crying and had been unable to stop "I would change it back," I said, "in a heartbeat And turned to take away Elizabeth's cigarette She immediately held out her hands like an infant who has been deprived of a toy"Smoke! Smoke! SMOKE!" Wireman butted the cigarette on the heel of his sandal and a moment later she quieted again, the cigarette forgotten now that her nicotine jones was satisfied "Stay with her while I put the painting in the front hall, would you?" Wireman asked"Wireman, I only meant-" "I knowIt was a stupid questionJust let me put this 540 painting safe, okay? Then the next time Jack comes, send him down hereWe'll wrap it nice and he can take it to the S