...is there anything about the rock on the spare paper he left behind. How does he interpret the rock.

Newly written:

They're just what I usually use as paperweights.

"Okay." He puts the rock on Pride and Prejudice.

J:  I thought your dad was going to come inside.  Can you let him know I appreciate that he tried to help and I'm sorry for not trusting him?

"Yeah, I'll pass that on."

J:  About how long is it before you'll want to leave again?

"My dad's reading in the car and doesn't want to run down the battery. I can come by tomorrow, after school if you don't have a lot of itinerary or I can ditch if you do?"

J:  I heard him say that, but I don't remember, or maybe never knew, how long car batteries lasted for this sort of thing.

"I don't know exactly. I think I have twenty minutes and not ninety and if you want more precision I can go ask."

J:  No, that's fine, thanks.  I think after school should be good enough.

"I'll plan on it, then. Did you think of any more stuff I should bring?"

J:  You might want a battery lantern as opposed to a flashlight, for your own sake.

"Perhaps I will stop by Newton's and see if they've got those."

D:  You may also want to install a working lock on the back door.  I don't think many folks come around here anymore but evidently some do.

"I'm not sure if I am legally allowed to do that. I'll ask Charlie."

J:  You mentioned a battery clock earlier; that would actually be really nice.  I don't know that it needs a date display.  It would be nice to have if you can find one but I don't remember them being common.

"I don't already have one but if I'm going on any shopping trips more extended than a swing through Newton's, I can probably find one. If you don't need a date it could just be a watch."

J:  Yeah.  If there's

He pauses and then scratches the sentence-start out.

Thanks for

A longer pause.

this.

"You're welcome, of course."

J:  What time does school get let out these days?

"Three but usually it's a job and a half getting out of the parking lot, especially if it's wet. I nearly got hit by somebody's van last winter."

J:  And it's always wet.

"Today it is merely damp! But yes."

J:  I guess it's worse for you guys.  I mean, if you think you've had rain in your eyes, imagine having rain in your eyes.  But at least we can't actually get wet.

"I didn't have the impression that going through walls was very - sensational - and would not have naively imagined that going through rain, or having rain go through you, was much different."