For the first time Ron realized the magnitude of the feeling within him. Seeing Clonar again was like having someone come back from the dead, a reprieve where no reprieve had been thought possible. Brothers could be no closer than he and Clonar had become in their short acquaintance a year before.
When they released each other, Clonar turned, linking arms with him. “Let me see the rest of the folks. Did they all come? I want you to meet my family, too.”
Francie ran squealing toward him and he caught her, lifting her high in the air. “Put me down!” she cried.
“Remember how you thought I was a monster when I came to your house, because I had one more finger on my hands than you had? Promise you won’t go around calling people monsters anymore?”
“Of course not! I’m more grown-up, now. You
