then i turn back toward them and whisper real loud , `` one last thing . `` i 'm excited to meet him-or her . '' after a moment , burke nodded to indicate he understood . not only the droppings ; he spotted a scratching-tree-one wi ' bits of hair caught in the bark . i mean , it 'd be pretty pathetic for me to whine about anything that happened when i walked straight into it . '' bobby stood up and walked outside . `` she knows how well you ... know me ? '' 