in passing , i 'd mentioned the fact that it was about time for her to learn how to read . she put the rag beside the brush . brooks 's head shook so hard i was worried his glasses were about to fly off . he clicks his tongue , shakes his head . as he approached , it grew larger . like me i thought sadly , looking down . how had she gotten from a sixteen-year-old to a woman of twenty-three ? whoa ... she had n't seen the like since she 'd left her father 's palace . 