She doesn't want me to see you anymore." Yeah, I know." Why?" What reason did she give you?" She told me you couldn't sense my emotions, that you were...a... what was the word she used? Yes, a charlatan. I told her you were my friend, and if I wanted to see you I would." She huffed a laugh. "I didn't need to be a psychic like you to sense my response upset her."I laughed gaily. "Good for you. Listen, I'm flying back to Phoenix this afternoon, and I want to stop by your place and say goodbye on. Againthere was the soft bleep and at once the lights in the apartment beyondcame on, affording a glimpse of the huge spaces within. Mandy laughedand clapped her hands at Brian's trick. She commanded the lights to gooff and on herself a couple of times.The outside of the house had given no clue to what was within. Theapartment was very modern and big spaces had been created which bore norelation to the original architecture. It was full of light and smoothgleaming surfaces and exquisite modern. We talked about the game and about our brothers. I found out that he was a freshman at his high school. He played baseball in spring and junior varsity football in fall and was hoping to make both the varsity football and baseball teams next year.He found out that I was in middle school and he didn’t immediately start treating me like a kid, so I figured he got points for that. He found out that I played basketball and I liked art and was good at math and science. He said he wasn’t so good at. The words were gently spoken, but there was a firmness in his voice, as though he was telling her something so obvious that no argument was needed, so true that no uncertainty was possible. His voice was soft and melodic, she did not understand the meaning of his words, but she sensed a warmth in him, a desire to comfort. She smiled up at him, grateful that this man would be with her and ashamed of her earlier disappointment. He was old, but not as old as she had thought, and there was strength.