she got up , splashing water on her face while rubbing away the sleep and tears . i asked , moving my hand onto his stomach . her long dark hair flowed about her as she walked . he had to know when it would happen . it was a smack in the face to realize you did n't know your friend as well as you thought you did . when i looked from the garage door back to mrs. esther , i saw that she was regarding me with an absolutely neutral expression . i knew she had something to say . 