“That leaves seven minutes and forty-five seconds of standing in the driveway,” Sam said, holding his yellow pad against his coat.

He unclipped the top corner of his blue plastic folder and held out a crisp white card with the official Colorado Springs school district seal.

“What’s that paper, Sam?” I asked, stepping down from the running board.

“My first-term report card,” Sam said.

“One hundred percent in mathematics and analytical logic.”

“Sam,” I said, leaning against the cold metal fender.

“We’re going to a holiday dinner, not a school board presentation.”