Afterward he emerged smiling.

A resident had asked a question that led to a lively discussion.

Nobody cared that he had taught from our dining room with Sadie’s volcano still visible on a shelf.

That evening he told me about the conversation, then caught himself.

“Sorry.

I’m talking about work again.”

“I want to hear about it,” I said.

“I just don’t want work to be the only thing we talk about.”