"Oh, sorry," she smiled. "I was just thinking that I will hardly ever see my friends from school again. I will miss them."

Robert smiled and cleared his throat to keep from laughing. "Hey, Mom, did I see a chocolate pie?"

*****

Marvin sat in his recliner, Chrissy sat in her accustomed chair, while Daphne and Robert sat on the couch to watch TV. Robert told several stories about things that had happened with some of his students. He was still working as a graduate associate teacher at the college. When the local news came on, Daphne excused herself to go upstairs to bed.

She took a shower, making sure...