my father was all over her； trying to calm her down。 It
was no use。 She basically dissolved right there on the spot。
Lyta threw her napkin down and muttered； “This family is a joke；” and took off。 Then my
mother bolted out of the room； sobbing into her hands；
and my father raced after her； throwing my grandfather the wickedest look I'd ever seen。
That left Granddad and me and a table full of cold food。 “Wow；” I finally said。 “I had no idea。”
“You still don't；” he told me。
“What do you mean？”
He sat there like granite for a minute； then leaned across the table toward me and said； “Why
do you suppose that upset your mother so much？”
“I…I don't know。” I gave a halfhearted grin and said； “Because she's female？”
He smiled； but just barely。 “No。 She's upset because she knows that she could very well be
standing in Mr。 Baker's shoes right now。”
I thought about it a minute and finally asked； “Did her brother have the cord around his neck
when he was born？”
He shook his head。
“Well； then …”
He leaned forward even farther and whispered； “You did。”
“I did？”
He nodded。 “Twice。”
“But …”
“The doctor who delivered you was on the ball； plus apparently there was some slack in the
cord； so he was able to loop it off as you came out。
……… Page 42………
You didn't hang yourself ing into the world； but it could very easily have gon