“You’d tell us if something was happening.”

“I’d tell you.” I handed her the bag.

“That has been the deal since the day I put this uniform on.”

She went down the steps two at a time.

The bus door folded shut, and the street went quiet.

I stood on the porch with my hand on the screen door handle until the bus turned at the corner and the dust settled back down on the road.

At nine I had my cap on and Gate Six gravel under my boots.