“Benji,” I said, sinking to my knees in the mud.

He hugged his knees tighter to his chest and hid his face in his arms.

He was gripping the worn green tail of his stuffed dinosaur, the fabric dripping gray water onto his shins.

“It’s Grandma, sweet boy.

Look up at me.”

He lifted his head slowly, his little face pale in the glare of my light.

“Grandma?” he whispered.

His teeth were clacking together so hard I could hear them over the music.