We're twins. And now I have
twins--strange. Something happened at birth; my brother was born
retarded, mentally challenged." Dan rubbed the back of his neck. "We
were given up for adoption. I didn't find out about this until I was
grown up."
"No," Oliver said.
"Dale was raised in an institution and eventually got work on this farm
where he gets room and board. It took me quite a while to find him. I
go see him every three or four months."
"That's too bad," Oliver said.
"He's a worker!" Dan said proudly. "He's strong. He's in a lot better
shape than I am."
"Is he happy there?"
"Yeah. We keep asking him to come and live with us, but he wants to
stay there. He likes his responsibilities, takes them seriously. He
comes over for a week's vacation every year." Dan smiled. "He splits
all our wood when he's here. The girls love him."
"Nice family," Oliver said.
"That's what it's all about. Sorry to miss the party, though."
"Well, some other time," Oliver said, raising one hand.
"Lucille," Dan called to a nurse down the hall, walking quickly after
her.
"He does the work of two people at least," Oliver said later to Suzanne.
"Kind of a workaholic, really," she said.
Pages:
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218
219
220
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230