“I’m trying to do that now,” I told the stone.

The night before Emma’s birthday, Mark called.

“Thomas, listen.

We’ve had an unexpected expense, and I need you to bring part of next year’s payment to dinner.

Emma’s tutoring program could be in danger otherwise.”

He spoke with the same polished urgency he had used for years.

I asked him for an itemized invoice and the program’s contact information.

“Why are you making this difficult?” he snapped.