Toby

Mom yelled out from the kitchen what she always yells when she hears the front door open, or the back door, or even a burglar climbing in through the window:

“Shoes off!”

The two of them right away dropped to one knee and started unlacing. They were pretty spooked, you could tell. I asked Ralph how about untying mine while he was down there, and he did, attaboy.

Then, shoes off, I handed him the rock and whispered, “Wait here. Don’t touch anything, either one of you,” and headed for the kitchen. I was nervous. I was sweating. I hate sweating.

I passed a picture of my dad on the wall in a suit and tie, smiling down like I amused him, highly.