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area. People are out of work and kids no longer know who they are or what they’re supposed to be—” I broke off because Mother was laughing, gently, but definitely laughing at me.
    â€œThanks for the instant course in Sociology 101.” She smiled at me.
    â€œSorry,” I mumbled.
    â€œ I’m sorry, Vic. I know coming back to Thornhill has been hard for you.”
    â€œWhat about you?” I wanted to shift the focus.
    She hesitated. “It hasn’t been easy for me, either, but I’ll readjust. I love our house; I love the countryside. John has one foot out of the nest and you’ll follow soon, but Suzy and Rob will be around for a while.”
    â€œStill—”
    â€œDon’t worry about me, Vicky, love. I’ve made my own choices and I’m happy with them. It’s your choices I’m thinking about.”
    I opened my paperback Hamlet, closed it again with my finger holding the place. “Maybe I’ve chosen just to mark time. Another year and I’ll be off to college.” I looked down at the orange cover of the book. I didn’t know where I wanted to go
to college. I’d thought about Berkeley, but even if I got a good scholarship, did I want to chase after Adam that way?
    Â 
    When I got home from choir practice on Wednesday, Suzy looked up from her homework. “Adam called.”
    â€œWhen?”
    â€œAbout half an hour ago.”
    â€œDid he leave a message?”
    â€œHe said it wasn’t important, he was just calling to check in. He did leave his number. Here.” She handed me a slip of paper.
    I called back. Nine-thirty at home, six-thirty in California. I was relieved when Adam, rather than some other guy in his dorm, answered the phone. “Just wanted to tell you I’ll definitely be coming to New York for Thanksgiving, since I’ll be going to Antarctica in December and won’t be home for Christmas. I’m taking about ten days off, so I’ll be up to see Aunt Serena for a few days.”
    â€œOh, good. I had tea with her on Monday.”
    â€œI’m glad. I like my favorite people to get to know each other.”
    That made me feel good. “She’s wonderful.”
    â€œHey, Vic, don’t you have a birthday coming up?”
    â€œThe week before Thanksgiving. I’ll be able to get my driver’s license.”
    â€œSixteen’s pretty special. Got any plans?”
    â€œNot really. We decided to wait till Thanksgiving to celebrate, because John will be home.”

    â€œMaybe you and I can do something while I’m in Clovenford.”
    â€œI’d love that.” I wanted us to go on talking, but I heard somebody yelling at him to get off the phone.
    â€œWe’ll talk again in a week or so,” he said. “Give everybody my love.”
    On Thursday I went to Aunt Serena’s, as planned. We had a lovely time. We drank tea and ate sandwiches and she talked to me about her girlhood, and what Clovenford was like then. We talked about Adam, and his internship.
    â€œIt’s very unusual for an undergraduate to get that kind of grant,” she said. “I’m extremely proud of him. And at the same time I’ll miss him. Cook will be gone, too, in January, for a month. He goes to the Falklands every other year to see Seth, his brother. I encourage these trips, much as I’ll miss him. Not just the cooking—Stassy’s a more than adequate cook—but his presence. He’s like a son to me.”
    â€œAdam said he was going to the Falklands—will he and Cook see each other?”
    â€œAlas, no. The timing doesn’t work out. Adam goes in December and Cook’s not leaving till January. Adam will stop off at the Falklands for a few days at Government House with Rusty and Lucy Leeds, the governor and his wife. Wise and warm people. They’re very fond of Cook and Seth. You should see Rusty when he’s dressed up for