Mostly, the people I roll past are just sleepy-eyed commuters dragging their feet as they trudge off to work. They usually come back to life after a second cup of coffee and a doughnut. First thing in the morning, I guess they’re just dead tired.

I cruise up to the middle school and I’m struck with a couple of surprises:

First, Stevie Kosgrov isn’t in the parking lot, shaking down kids for their lunch money.

Second, Uncle Frankie is there, waiting for me.

Uncle Frankie looks extremely serious.

It’s funny how, sometimes, this whole comedy thing will do that to people.