Chapter Ten
--1--They were in Julian's house, but Megan was absent. They were accustomed to the absence of adults. They preferred it. Adults are large and unpredictable. They come in the middle of the night or day in disguise and then disappear. Adults promise protection and then return them to their furious enemy. Adults say that sleep is safe, and then they die.
Megan called from the hospital early in the afternoon to tell Julian his father was safely out of surgery and resting in the recovery room. She asked him to turn off the oven, take out the ham, wait for fifteen minutes and then cut some slices for his guests and himself. Be sure to cut toward the bone. Cornbread is in the breadbox -- you can have it cold or you can heat it up in the oven for a few minutes after the ham comes ou
