Dana sighed softly from the other end of the crowded room.

She bowed her head and quickly started the prayer.

The dinner lasted exactly one uncomfortable hour.

Nobody asked anything about the farm.

Nobody mentioned the Denver area code, the survey flags near the barn, or the sudden sale.

Mark talked at length about his kids playing baseball in the spring league.

Walt ate two big helpings of baked ham and nodded quietly at Mark’s stories.

I pushed the scalloped potatoes around my plate and watched the round clock on the wall.