only the horror of being ordered to do something even worse had kept him silent . it took a second to get my bearings . it reminded her of aunt mayas garden next to the house . she nodded , handing him his cane . for them the most important thing they should do in their life was to make me an engineer . but i did n't have the guts to even tell you the truth . '' a cheery fire snapped and popped in a stone fireplace . 