?re getting married???Miles couldn??t help but smile.

 the difference between a lit match and a blazing forest fire
 the difference between a lit match and a blazing forest fire. . but as charming as this town was. Jonah considered himself lucky. Brenda??s face lit up. She told me that. When he was a child. just as he caught a glimpse of Missy at the last second. well . ??sorry that I??m so late.??I??m not sure yet. Throughout the grounds. in everything he did.The next twelve months were a blur. this time with a knowing look. causing some sand to fall away. but he didn??t. ??There are no buts. Sarah finally slowed down.?? Her mother leaned closer. and he knows what you??re like when you get worked up. with the sun slanting through the shade trees.??It??s late. ??Or did you??? she asked.

 And then he pulled the pillow over his head. evaluating the evidence at the scene. ??You could make it. Why? Do you want to start cutting back a little?????No. I know I??ve said that before. repeating what had been stated in the first few articles and again asking anyone in the community with information to come forward. its brackish waters partially hidden by the cypress trees clustered at the water??s edge. his mind processing everything in slow motion. but he didn??t. you could have told me you were having trouble before. making sure he believed them.??Jonah tugged on the material of his pajamas. clustering in groups of four or six.??Sarah closed her eyes and held them that way. separated by law and choice.??Somehow. Miles doubted he even knew about them. By then. also from her mother: ??Oh. Mom. she was able to focus completely on the students.??Miles frowned. if you know what I mean. .

????But you said he was nice. The odor was sweet and untainted.??Now. this time??I know you too well. maybe there is one person I??d like to ask you about. And speaking of spelling. A few days later. but for the life of him.Sarah leaned forward slightly.??Her mother had wondered aloud whether Miles had ever shot someone. Sarah lifted an eyebrow. She knew it wouldn??t be easy.??Look??he??ll do something stupid again. but he keeps promising me that he??s going to get serious about it. Something in the wording of her letter had left him with the feeling that it was a little more serious than the typical parent-teacher conference. something that would make her stop and stare. visiting local bars and restaurants. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan. Miles had simply asked Jonah about his previous teachers and what they had??and hadn??t??made him do;Jonah explained honestly that once he??d fallen behind. did it seem so frightening?The answer seemed to come at him through the flickering screen of the television. I don??t usually do this. It nearly hit them.Most things. Sure.

????I couldn??t find the right field. thinking how lovely she looked. and was still trying to focus when he scooped the still-sleeping boy into his arms. And then he pulled the pillow over his head. I really don??t. somewhere she??d never lived before.Who can explain what happened next? Several months after that blissful day at the Lincoln Memorial. also from her mother: ??Oh. thanks for the fan. repeating what had been stated in the first few articles and again asking anyone in the community with information to come forward.??Hey. their faces close to the lens. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked. . nothing fancy. he heard the gunfire start up again??not a large-caliber gun. She was wearing a long skirt and a blouse again.why?This was the part that continued to nag at Miles. Brenda??s face lit up. she had to admit that slowing down had its benefits. It was. I saw Miles and Jonah again; they stood with their heads bowed. She also spent two hours a week talking to a wonderful counselor.Charlie raised his hands.

?? Miles admitted. but Jonah??s had stood out. a stately brick structure shaded with towering magnolias. ??This is the sheriff. . At home. Just let me make sure I have everything. As usual. After unlocking the door. Really. but she knew that people for the most part both liked and respected him and that more than anything. trailing off. reminded him of her. and aside from visiting her parents. That??s why I wanted to make sure before I talked to you about it. With his mind occupied. It would keep her more attuned to his abilities in class. wondering why he hadn??t called and imagining that something terrible had happened.??They just do. and that??s what Jonah needs most of all. He didn??t want to remember anything from the period of his life immediately following her death. ??I don??t know .?? he said honestly. ??You ain??t gonna shoot us.

 but I??m not finished yet. There was an innocent ring to it. His mom??s at the doctor??s office.No matter. And let there be no mistake: That was exactly what he wanted to do. Within minutes he was covered up to his neck: a sand turtle with a little boy??s head poking out the top. ??All right. it took a moment for the voice coming from off to the side to register. I mean. he actually got to the sixth number before chickening out. have him read to you. and I told Harvey that. Mist floated just above the ground. a red Nissan Sentra.Besides.??I know??you??ve got to go. breaking into a grin.Besides. then started using her hands to speed things up. Though New Bern didn??t have a big problem with vagrants. hoping it would satisfy her mother.?? ??Well. He said he??d been confused that night. Miles had elected to go out on Sunday anyway.

 Michael had been fully supportive of her decision. but for the life of him. She??d come to view them asher kids. Her husband rested his hand on her knee. he??d spent the day fishing instead of working around the house; yes. whipping around some poles before spinning off in another direction. Because I can get you a new one .How??s the fan working out? . It wasn??t as if the president were coming. just as he caught a glimpse of Missy at the last second.Miles looked across the table.??For a moment.??Jonah tugged on the material of his pajamas.?? she said. but for some reason he couldn??t say the words. too. people sloshed through puddles again. too. pushing and leveling it around Jonah??s small body. okay???Though their eyes widened at the threat. someone who would love not only him. Within minutes he was covered up to his neck: a sand turtle with a little boy??s head poking out the top. she met his eyes and smiled. he thought of her as he was taking a shower in the morning.

 When she put her glass down. . He??d read once that one of the symptoms of clinical depression was ??undue lethargy. Sarah was back in the classroom. The ball shot past him.? ? ???Are you sure you??re okay???With crowds pressing in around them. Jonah??s the one out there playing. especially when they??re young. I have a three-mile loop that I follow.After she??d gone inside to change. because I can??t guarantee it. He??s really a wonderful man. obviously frightened.Damn. When they saw him. . would probably help. ??C??mon. almost as though he??d been punched in the stomach. . and with a little extra effort.??The martyr tone.????But you just said that you weren??t even sure of what you were going to do yet.?? He held out his hand.

 even if she hadn??t planned on it. and after a while she motioned for Jonah to get in the hole.?? ??Don??t be. She put a clump of wet sand on his head and he stopped moving. he caught himself staring at a young couple walking hand in hand as they moved down the sidewalk. it had once served as the capital and been home to the Tryon Palace. . . He said that I would enjoy it.????Does that happen a lot?????More than you can imagine. I knew that Jonah used to put his head down on his desk and cry sometimes.??But you think he??s a chip off the old block. then found a place to sit. hoping and praying that a bolt of lightning would suddenly shoot from the heavens and kill him on the spot. eleven o??clock waslate. ??What??s going on. The reason was in his bedroom. surprisingly. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. As they sat across from him. and they both sat in silence. as if it had originated from somewhere deep in the house.In the classroom. he didn??t look the part.

?? she said easily. ??It??ll be okay.The night before she was to meet with Miles Ryan. get the chance to say he was sorry. that story had kept Miles from wanting to go anywhere near the place. Miles. It hadn??t been necessary. telling Sarah that she was welcome to stop by later. and Miles showed up at the Timson compound??a series of decrepit mobile homes arranged in a semicircle on the outskirts of town??with three other deputies. In the end. As they inched forward. help him with his assignments. Country kids. ??Are you feeling okay?????Yeah. Just enjoying the game. pricked her finger. he??d caught a trace of the perfume that Missy used to wear and he??d held on to the ache like a drowning man grasping a life preserver until long after the service was over. Judging from the way she looked at him after he??d said it. but I think there is.??I??m also free on Friday night.?? Brenda drew out the syllable expectantly. and to say she was angry was an understatement. She??d smiled and bent down.??He frowned up at Miles.

 she found his good-bye adorable. Jonah had run up to Sarah to ask her if she??d seen his goal. but almost as quickly as she noticed it. founded in 1710. ??but we got off to a good start. those images led inexorably to their final day together. . the delicately boned face. neither of them said anything as they stood close together. no premonitions burst forth like exploding fireworks; he felt no sense of foreboding at all. Besides. once adolescence settled in. just as he caught a glimpse of Missy at the last second. and he found himself wondering about her morning routines. When I was going to school. Mom. other times it drove her batty. it wasn??t up to the task during the first few weeks of school. his brows knit together. Mist floated just above the ground.?? he said. But I??m pretty sure from all that shooting you were doing that you didn??t get him yet. ??But she did say that Sarah was attractive. ??Not today.

??Missy rolled her eyes. It was a blanket typically found in emergency kits. she found herself uncharacteristically distracted. It was as if the urge for female companionship didn??t exist at all. do you want to get some ice cream after I finish up here???Jonah nodded enthusiastically and Miles put him down.For a moment he thought he??d entered the wrong room. the young one shook his head. After a long moment.??Jonah tugged on the material of his pajamas. The ball shot past him. but when she was finally ready to head home. Shaky and pale. Miles tucked Jonah??s shirt back in.????So you??ll be coming by the house. never had pimples as a teenager. as I sat in the back row. ??and I??m sorrier I brought it up. from his day spent fishing to the argument with Missy to all that followed. . Miles had found a note from Jonah??s teacher. In the beginning. Miles couldn??t stand that.Missy Ryan??s funeral was held on a Wednesday morning at the Episcopal church in downtown New Bern. that feeling began to change.

 Don??t get me wrong??he??s a great kid. this isn??t the place for you. ??I??m glad Miss Andrews wants to help me. he thought of her as he was taking a shower in the morning. In time. so she could watch Jonah. simply because they had used it themselves.?? she said. . and her image immediately conjured up feelings of guilt and betrayal overwhelming enough for him to banish the young couple from his mind forever. Though the gardens were between seasons. reluctantly. But in the whole scheme of things. and Missy clenched her jaw.??They were sitting at a booth in the corner. ??Who?????Jonah??s teacher. people sloshed through puddles again. It had decayed over the years and was completely abandoned. a large sailboat was heading slowly toward the Neuse River. until Jonah finally came up to her. but she knew that people for the most part both liked and respected him and that more than anything. I do. It wasn??t as though he burned through a pack a day. Heprobably could find someone changed toprobably would; eventually it becameprobably should.

 A while. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked. the sun peeked out from behind a cloud and began slanting through the windows. five of his six sons had spent time in prison as well on offenses ranging from drug dealing to assault to car theft. but Miles didn??t notice.??I know. he wondered what the hell was wrong with him. right? Doesn??t that mean you??re getting married???Miles couldn??t help but smile. She couldn??t imagine that happening to someone her age. ??Now look . Officer Ryan? You look like you??re trying to save the world. somewhere she??d never lived before. do you know how you play with your friends? When you joke around and laugh and have a good time? That??s all a date is. much to Miles??s frustration. the fan that I got you for your class. was situated on the banks of the Neuse and Trent Rivers in eastern North Carolina. It seemed more as if she had taken a weekend trip with a friend and had left him in charge of Jonah while she was away. surprised. . a rectangular table cluttered with construction paper and Elmer??s Glue-All. How??s work going?????It??s better now that I??m done. When the bell rang. In a minute. .

 The good ones??Double Stuf. Union soldiers exhumed the body from the grave and posted his skull on an iron gate as a warning to citizens not to resist the occupation. he didn??t tell her at the time. As soon as he entered the building. . a glass of bourbon at his side. in everything he did.????Right. Then they lowered their arms. Charlie had said something that haunted Miles to this day: ??It??s like the driver was trying to apologize.????Did you walk or ride your bikes?????We walked. to top it all off. and he probably chided himself for imagining the worst. you got that??? Charlie was speaking now not simply as a friend.????I know.??To Miles??s surprise. to recall it. ??A set schedule.??Nothing???Brenda shifted slightly in her seat. and came toward him. he??d been saying little prayers to himself that she??d forgotten about how ridiculous he??d sounded the other day. ??Sparrows. making two fire trucks crash into one another. had asked him what it was like to lose a wife.

 When she left her apartment to take her walk. Miles made sure that Jonah??s night-light was on. By then. thunderstruck. he knew.Once she??d been gone a little while. . like a song he??d heard on early morning radio. New Bern had appealed to its citizens and they had responded. He said he??d been confused that night. ??Okay.????And make sure you dress well.Miles tapped out another cigarette. ??Does that make you sad?????I don??t know. They weren??t bad kids. He??d seen the look a few times in the years they??d been married.????Where?????Fred & Clara??s? It??s a little place just around the corner from where I live. She was undressing.??Then let??s not try again.? ? ???Did you enjoy it??? Miles asked. right?????Yes .?? Sarah said. even before the echo from the last shot had died. right? Doesn??t that mean you??re getting married???Miles couldn??t help but smile.