I decided to wait up for Daniel. I missed him. It had been days since I'd actually spoken to him, or laid eyes on him, even though we were

sleeping in the same house. He was up and gone before I left for school, or else he was sleeping because he'd only just

gotten home. And then, he got home long after I was asleep at night.

I kept my plans to myself. If it had been a weekend night, they might not have said much about it, but, being as how

it was a school night, somebody would have nipped it in the bud. So, I went off to bed at the usual time, and set my alarm for

eleven just in case I fell asleep within the hour.

But, I didn't go to sleep. I just read my latest library book, watching the time. At a little after eleven, I went down the back

stairs, really quietly, to the kitchen. I made a mammoth sandwich. The sort that Crane calls a Dagwood. I used a thick slice of

ham, and cheese, with a slice of tomato, a slice of onion, and tiny sweet pickles and slathered the bread with Miracle Whip. I put some

chips on the same plate, and filled a glass with milk, stirring in some of the chocolate syrup that we hardly ever have around. Daniel

really really likes chocolate milk.

I took the glass and the plate of food, and went out to the living room. I decided to wait for him outside on the porch,

as long as I could keep the dogs quiet. As a second plan of action, I went back to the kitchen, and took another piece of

ham out with me, intending to parcel it out to the dogs.

I closed the door to the living room and sat down in the porch swing to wait.

Gus and Warrior came round immediately, to sit with me. I knew Fat Clarence was likely around at the back door, and

Jethro Bodine likes to sleep in the barn. I tore off bits of the ham and fed it to Gus and Warrior. Gus sat at my feet politely, but

Warrior hopped up into the swing to sit beside me, nearly on my lap. There were lots of stars out tonight. An old blanket had

been left in the swing from when somebody else had been out here recently. I was glad because it was getting a bit cooler, and

it felt good to be wrapped up in it. Even though it smelled sort of musty.

I hadn't turned on the porch light, choosing instead to stay in the dark with only light from the moon. I'd brought out

a flashlight, to help guide Daniel up the stairs. When I saw the headlights of a vehicle coming up the road, I figured it had to be Daniel.

It was, and he turned into the driveway, coming up. He parked over to the side, where he usually does, and I heard Jethro give one half-hearted bark. Obviously, he recognized Daniel, so he didn't put a lot of energy into it.

Gus got up, and padded down the stairs and across the yard. I heard Daniel say, softly, "Hey, Gussie," in greeting.

He was at the foot of the stairs, Gus behind him, when I thought I'd better speak up, so as not to startle him.

"Hi, Daniel," I said, softly. I flicked the flashlight on, and turned it onto the steps.

Daniel followed it, coming up. "What are you doin' up, and out here, squirt?" he asked.

"Waiting for you," I said, simply.

"Oh, yeah?" he said. He paused beside the swing. "How come?"

"Because I wanted to actually talk to you," I said. "I haven't seen you in days."

"Yeah. It's been some crazy hours," Daniel said, sounding tired.

"I made you something to eat," I reported, and shined the flashlight on the plate and glass that were sitting on the

porch table to the side.

"What is that?" he asked, stepping closer. "Looks like a Dagwood-"

"That's what it is. Ham and cheese. I even put an onion on it. And pickles. And, look-" I gave the flashlight another

place to focus. "Chocolate milk."

"Well, damn," he said. "Move your dog so I can sit down."

I ushered Warrior from the spot beside me, and Daniel sat down. I handed him the plate.

"I'll hold the milk, so you can eat," I offered, knowing it would take both hands for him to hold that sandwich.

"Okay." He settled the plate on his lap, and picked up the sandwich, biting into it.

"That's a good sandwich right there," he said, chewing.

I felt sort of warm inside. Daniel seemed so appreciative. Just of having a sandwich made for him. He took a couple of drinks

from the chocolate milk and handed it back to me as he continued eating.

"How'd you manage the chocolate milk?" he asked.

"Some Hersheys syrup that I pushed way to the back of the fridge before I went to bed. So Guthrie would think it was all

gone, and I could save it for you," I shared triumphantly.

"You're my favorite sister, you know that?" he said, and I giggled at the old joke.

"Do you like your job?" I asked. "Or do you know yet?"

"I'd say I'm still gettin' used to it. I think it's gonna be alright."

"What do you do, exactly?" I asked.

"I do maintenance on boilers, some diesel engines."

"Oh. So-it's like being a mechanic, sort of?"

"Yeah. Like that."

"Well, you were always the best mechanic in the family," I said, loyally.

"Thanks, squirt," he said. He'd finished off the sandwich, and was eating the chips, holding the glass in his other hand.

The moon was so very bright, I could even see his profile.

He didn't mention Jill being gone off with her friend overnight, and so I didn't mention it, either.

He asked me what was new with me, and I told him about helping the colt be born at Ivy's, and about how Kenny had

asked me to go on the weekend to his grandma's for the night.

I finished by saying, in frustration, "And Adam says he has to think about it. That he doesn't like the thought of me

spending the night."

"Well-at least he's thinkin' about it," Daniel pointed out.

"Yeah. But, it's ridiculous. There's no reason I shouldn't get to," I said, stubbornly.

"Hmmm," he said.

I wondered at that. "You think it's alright, don't you?" I asked him.

"Don't bring me into this, brat," he chided me. "I won't be around to say whether I think it's alright or not-"

"I know."

"Adam has the final say-so. You know that."

"I know. I'm just asking what you think," I said.

"Well-" he paused, as though in thought. "I know you don't wanna hear this-but I don't think, if it was up to me, that

I'd let you go."

"What? Why?" I asked, disappointed.

"I think it's puttin' a lot of pressure where there doesn't need to be any," he said.

"What does that mean?" I asked, sitting up straighter and feeling indignant.

"I told ya you wouldn't want to hear it."

"What do you mean?" I asked, again.

"This thing with you and Kenny-it seems to have happened fast," Daniel said.

"That's crazy," I protested. "I've known Kenny since the beginning of time, practically."

"I know. But, the dating part of things, the relationship part of it, that's happened quick."

For a split moment, I wondered what Daniel would say if he knew that Kenny had offered me a promise ring. I knew, instinctively,

that he wouldn't care for it.

"If Kenny and I really wanted to have sex, it could be anywhere," I pointed out. "It's ridiculous to predict it

happening just because we're both at his grandma's house. That's stupid."

"I don't think anybody's predictin' anything. It's just concern, squirt. Don't get all het up."

I sighed, and was quiet. Daniel tipped the glass up to finish what was left. Into the quiet, he said, softly, "Don't be mad at me."

"I'm not mad at you," I said.

And, I wasn't. Not really. Irked, yes. But, I wasn't mad at him. Partly, because I saw so little of him that I didn't want

to fuss with him. And, also, partly because I knew how worn out he had to be, working so many hours, and then

driving far on top of that. And his foolish choice of a girlfriend was off somewhere, having a great time.

"I need to be gettin' to bed," he said. "Another long day tomorrow." He stood up, and added, "You, too. You'll be

too tired in the mornin'."

"Yeah," I said, in agreement and stood up, as well.

We went inside, quietly, and to the kitchen, where Daniel switched on the light over the sink, and he put his plate and

glass in the sink. When he switched off the light again, we went up the back stairs in the dark, by years of knowing the

steps, even in the lack of light. Upstairs, in the hallway, there was the nightlight to see by.

At the doorway of the bedroom he was sharing with Crane, he reached a hand out to cup at the back of my neck, holding me

in place.

"Thanks for the sandwich. And the chocolate milk," he said, quietly, so as not to wake anybody up, and giving me a grin. "It hit the spot."

"You're welcome," I said, just as quietly.

"And, for the company, too," he added. "It was nice, you waitin' up like that."

"It's okay," I said. When I thought of all the things that Daniel's done for me, over the years of my life, it was

a small thing for me to have done.

He pulled me in, and kissed my forehead. "Get sleep," he said.

I caught the front of his shirt in my fingers, just gently, to hold him still. "You tell me that Kenny and I happened fast," I said.

"Uh huh," he said, waiting for me to go on.

"That's the pot calling the kettle black," I said, in a near-whisper. "You know that, right?"

Referring, of course, to the swiftness of his relationship with Jill.

Daniel gave me a look, and then the corners of his eyes crinkled in a half-smile. "Don't be a smart-ass," he said, low, and

reached out to pat my cheek.

7