Читать книгу Little Bird of Heaven - Joyce Carol Oates - Страница 8

HE WOULD SAY I am innocent you know that don’t you?

And I would say Yes Daddy.

But it was never enough of course. The fervent belief, the unquestioning love of a child for her father—this may be precious to the father but it can’t ever be enough for him.

To claim—to claim repeatedly—that you are innocent of what it is claimed by others that you have done, or might have done, or are in some quarters strongly suspected of having done, is never enough unless others, numerous others, will say it for you.

Unless you are publicly vindicated of whatever it is you have been strongly suspected of doing, it can’t be enough.

…you know that darling don’t you? You and your brother? You and your brother and your mother have got to know that don’t you?

Yes Daddy.