The Uninvited

at the light fixture, then opens his eyeswide and blinks repeatedly. He grabs atube of wood glue, clutches it to his chestand spins around on his bottom, like ahuman compass finding north. When hestops again, his face is completely blank.‘Freddy K?’Then out of the blue, he’s crying. Bigangry sobs that shake his small frame. Hisface is smeared with snot and tears. I stepover to him, crouch down, put my handson his shoulders. He falls against my chestand put his arms around my neck. We staylike that. I pat his back and he sobs.‘Freddy K, Freddy K, Freddy K,’ I say.‘Let’s sit at the table and talk about allthis. I’m here. I’ll take care of you. I loveyou. We’ll work out what to do.’But for reasons I can’t fathom, this jolts