Chapter 24: One to Nothing

By nine the hall was empty, and the paper lantern swung over the long table.

The guests had gone out into the warm dark in twos and threes, and many of them had hugged me on the way.

The boss had shaken my hand and said Brett's father would hear from him on Monday.

Dawn had gone home with the choir, riding in the front seat of the oldest alto's Buick with her shoes in her lap.

My father was the last to leave.

He stood at the foot of the little stage with his reading glasses in his hand.

He had the legal pad under his arm.

I hadn't seen it come in.

He tore off the top sheet, the one with June 14 underlined twice, and folded it small.

"Your savings are in your account," he said.

"I went to the bank this morning, before I drove out to the east road."

"You went to the bank?"

"I wanted to see if I still could."

He set the pad on the table.

It was blank.

"I don't have the right to ask for anything," Dad said.

"No."

"I'd like to know when I'm allowed to ask."

I looked at him for a long time.

"Ask me at Thanksgiving," I said. "I'll tell you then."

He nodded as if I'd given him a verdict.

Then he took his wife's arm at the side door, and Mom went out beside him without turning around.

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