The Uninvited

archaeopteryx, and then – here was theeducational part – I’d say ‘You’rewelcome’ or its equivalent in a foreignlanguage, some basic phrases of which I’dlooked up earlier. We’d covered over ahundred countries. Then we’d talk aboutthe culture and traditions of the day’scountry, and I’d tell him one of its folktales while he ate. When Kaitlin camehome he’d try out that morning’s languageon her, or a story. He especially lovedRussian, and the story of Baba YagaBony-legs, the witch who lived in a housethat stood on chickens’ legs. Often he saidnyet for no, and da for yes.But now he didn’t even say that.He just threw his egg on the floor. Itbroke open and lay there steaming. Herefused to speak to me. I didn’t know what