Page 26 (1/2)

It’s a sives Janie hope

She studies the books all day, until it’s ti home The residents are all tucked in their beds, doors closed Janie fills out charts at the front desk She is alone

The call panel is dark, until a white light flashes from the room Miss Stubin once occupied A new

resident is there now His naoes into the room to see what he needs But Mr McVicker is asleep

He’s dreaoes blind

9:59 pm

They are in the basement of a house It’s lit ray leaves blowing and piling up outside the ventingEverything is in black and white, she realizes after a er He stands at the botto s

Mr McVicker looks horrified, and Edward stor the door The old man tries to follow, but he can only , but no words coh the steps He looks at Janie, his face cracked and broken, lined with tears And then he looks past Janie Janie turns around

Miss Stubin is standing behind her, watching Waiting For soly at Mr McVicker

His face is anguished

Fresh tears fall fro into the steps, and now he can’thim, compassionate She closes her eyes, and her brow furrows She holds deathly still

"Help s

Miss Stubin glides over to Mr McVicker

Holds her hand out

Helps hiically repair thes hilances at Janie and nods, then turns back to the oldthat Janie cannot hear

They stand there, Janie looking on, for several ain Mr McVicker and Edward are yelling

Hateful things

Mr McVicker looks horrified, and Edward turns toward the stairs Miss Stubin says soain The scene pauses Mr McVicker reaches for Edward’s sleeve

"Don’t go," he says "Please There’s so I have to tell you"

Edward turns around slowly

"Son," the oldAnd I’m so sorry"

Edward’s lip quivers

He opens his ar man "I love you," he says Miss Stubin whispers a third time to Mr McVicker, and he nods and smiles He puts his arether