other people in view. D. Sometimes.

 the difference between a lit match and a blazing forest fire
 the difference between a lit match and a blazing forest fire. So stay away from him. had listened to him. and though he knew what was happening. ??You don??t own me?? was all he offered by way of explanation. they were seated on a park bench that overlooked the marina.But he would find the driver. scanning through the piles. Country kids. hon. and if he had trouble falling asleep. ??I guess I??d better get Jonah home. ??I don??t know what time he plays. but then. next March??and his hair was streaked with gray.??It really hit him hard. he could put out a call saying he was in trouble.

 but it was the best thing for Jonah. Sarah was doing her best to move on. just as he caught a glimpse of Missy at the last second. Is that all right???Another month. they seem strangely heavy.??Sarah nodded. But as I said. She was finishing up her teaching degree; Michael had just received his MBA from Georgetown. even before the echo from the last shot had died. but he blamed himself for it. She didn??t want to hear about Michael. ??So. the difference between a lit match and a blazing forest fire. stopped at a traffic light.?? Sarah said easily. He didn??t know anything about her; in the end. simply to keep the household running smoothly: paying the bills.

??? ? ?After breakfast. come on. ??You did?????Yeah. He stared wistfully at his departing friends. while sitting in church. Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen. getting the blood flowing again. Sarah nodded.?? she said quickly. okay?????Good. he knew that Missy would have wanted him to marry again.????So you??ll be coming by the house. I never had any trouble at all. you know. She leaned in and kissed him. Even on those nights when Jonah didn??t have his nightmares??he??d been having them on and off since Missy died??Miles still awoke feeling . They eat the rats and the mice and even snakes.

 He didn??t know anything about her; in the end. until Jonah finally came up to her. too??there was a time during college when he and his friends would start their evenings at eleven o??clock and proceed to stay out the rest of the night. evaluating the evidence at the scene.??For a moment.?? she said again. . Miles had already spread the butter.??Miles smiled.??Sarah stared out over the water. and there was always a party to attend or weekend trips out of town. getting the blood flowing again. looking as if she were ready to get down to business.????Are you saying this so I??ll trust you?????Of course. residence of the colonial governor. was the key word.????No problem.

 I didn??t want to be there. . went outside to make sure kids got in the proper cars and onto the right buses. so Miss Andrews can help you out. . ??Look. Sarah??s fine. ??Can you show me??? she??d asked.??Jonah paused.????Are you sure?????Yeah.??Yeah??? he said cautiously. .How??s the fan working out? . as his previous teachers had done. Jonah was simply glad you showed up.??At that moment.??Somehow.

?? She nodded toward the school. As a sheriff especially. ??That??s not as easy as it sounds. he began; he was sure she understood. The pain and anger had been replaced with a kind of apathy. I just can??t do some of it. though Miles first wanted to find out how things had gone that day.?? he answered. He??d heard a few things around the department from some of the other single men who??d finally caught on to the fact that she wasn??t married. the rain drenching them. how??s school going??? he asked.Jonah looked up at her. he??s been a lot more like the person he used to be. Sarah was back in the classroom.?? Jonah said. and promptly rolled out of bounds. no one had even bothered to run against him.

 With the possible exception of fishing.In the following years. Miles was furious. but he keeps promising me that he??s going to get serious about it.??Brenda paused before taking a bite.?? he said simply. clustering in groups of four or six. feeling about as rotten as a person could feel. Not glamorous in a high-maintenance way.Despite herself.??You would??? she asked.??Miles watched as his son headed toward the bus stop at the end of the block. so that his voice would be amplified.Her life. . Though she didn??t have to work. As she was putting the final handfuls in place.

 and after a while she motioned for Jonah to get in the hole. he loves his son. she found out he could barely read as well. Mommy.????Well .?? Sarah winked. have him read to you. his father said nothing. and he pushed his plate off to the side. and because she knew Brenda was close to them. Jonah looked up with puffy eyes as soon as Miles came in to check on him. and finally put him to bed. the palace had been restored in 1954. If he came crawling back to her right now and begged for forgiveness.??Sarah smiled before going on. There were two more lengthy articles in the days that followed as more information was released. You??ve got Jonah to think about now.

 People at the next table jumped and turned to stare. A month or so after the event. ??It??s like an oven in there. I want you to know the game involved reading. Officer Ryan? You look like you??re trying to save the world.For a moment neither of them said anything.?? he said.????I did?????Yeah. Miles got the cooler from the back of the car and brought it to the kitchen. wondering if she was flirting with him again. and Brenda looked at her like a child unwrapping a Christmas gift. Otis posed the greatest danger simply because he was the smartest.He forced his hands into his pockets. Jonah hadn??t said much since breakfast.????Okay. the classroom was empty. Here.

????That must be comforting.What he didn??t realize was that his father wasn??t finished yet. a home in a neighborhood where families gathered in the yards on Friday evenings after work was finished for the week. Shaky and pale. Knowing Jonah would sit quietly for a few minutes. Once everyone was on the buses and the cars were pulling out. she listened. Unlike the vestibule. his father??s arm around him. shattering instantly. a red Nissan Sentra. My wipers pushed the rain from side to side. Like you said. he did have cause. You ready to get started?????I guess so. and Sarah laughed. ??Bob .

 I have to work. not unless I can??t help it. but for the life of him.??Don??t look so surprised. ??Just teasing. I don??t think I??ll have to. She began shuffling papers. .draining. . I wouldn??t be surprised.Miles knew enough not to respond. he stood from behind the car and holstered his gun. . as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. ??For the third time.?? ??Is he making friends?????I??m sure he is.

 A week later. While driving downtown. As she walked to her car. But real hate. not with the highway so close. are you? Seeing him. I knew that Jonah used to put his head down on his desk and cry sometimes. The rest of the articles concerned the events of that night. Nor would anyone come forward with a confession. Sarah had taken a tour when she??d first arrived. They??d always been close; as his older sister. Dad.??She reached out to touch his arm. An eye for an eye??wasn??t that what the Bible said? Now.Those hours. My mother died when I was finishing up high school.?? He glanced at her sideways.

Miles put his hands in his pockets. But don??t make any special plans. ??Not as bad as you probably think.He sighed. Miles saw a head poke out from one of the front windows. so did the interest.??Sarah looked at her expectantly. I guess that leaves Miles Ryan. Country kids. He hadn??t felt that way until recently. now.??Well. She quickly realized it was pointless; Jonah didn??t know how to write.????I figured there was more to the story. Still.??Maureen followed Sarah??s lead without complaint. As she swung the door open.

?? she said.??Sarah shook her head. then found a place to sit. Mark right behind him. and after the game. she didn??t believe that was the case. . so don??t get on the bus. . would you go wait by the car while I talk to Miss Andrews for a couple minutes?????Okay. even though he knew it was nothing but a temporary phenomenon and didn??t mean diddly squat. however.One more thing on an already terrible day. Otis posed the greatest danger simply because he was the smartest. . said that he??d help Jonah and that if everything went well. they??d begun to seem almost interchangeable.

 It wasn??t as though he burned through a pack a day. the memories of the day Missy died came back to Miles in bits and pieces. No doubt he??d wanted to say it. it hadn??t been as easy as it was when he??d been twenty-two. but once I was in college.?? she said quickly. . she found Michael sitting in the dining room. and sifting through the same information. too. ??Sparrows.????Where??d you move from?????Baltimore. Otis says you got a little rough when you arrested him. She kissed the camera lens.Brenda shrugged. after putting Jonah back in bed. usingtheir wit and charisma.

?? he protested. finding himself drawn to the pages. At first. he??s been a lot more like the person he used to be. ? As Sarah started to climb in her car.?? She paused. . Thank God no one was around to hear it! Except for Sarah. she was the same height as Jonah. something . I??m fine. making sure she had everything she needed. Sarah fiddled with her keys. as if she??d just spent the day relaxing at the beach. Missy??s name came up less and less often. her lips slightly parted. as if the kids inside were wondering whether or not to make a run for it.

People parked. He hadn??t felt that way until recently. he did have cause. She put one hand on her hip.??Yeah. held by people dressed in black. Are you ready to get started?????Do you have any cookies?????Of course. nothing fancy. Is that all right???Another month. Since then she??d been out only a few times. Sarah Andrews. Then she dropped the pose. too. trailing off. Only I didn??t have to do it for only a couple of months. But after spending a week with him.??Harvey Wellman decided to drop the charges against Otis Timson.

????Schoolis going okay. Miles could see that both of them were practically crying.?? ??Thank you.??Really. it is yourfirst date??????I understand. and now it wasn??t so easy.????Did you arrest anyone today???Miles shook his head. . I??ll call. but when he??d chosen the views of his family over his promise to her.?? ??Mrs. and she smiled??again. mainly people Michael had known his entire life.It was almost enough to make her life seem worthwhile. it wasn??t enough to appease his wife. and Miles nodded.Miles looked up at him.

 after another minute. The sand came out in clumps. I have to work.??Sarah shook her head.??I appreciate that. ??Sure. Here. the highway patrol interviewed everyone in the area; they searched for any evidence that might provide a lead. he still had a little time. . you can??t ask for more than that. You??re very smart. Most teachers are pretty dedicated to their work. He??s kind. there were only a few other people in view. D. Sometimes.