A car went by on the street, slowed, and then didn’t stop.

“You could just tell people the family went to Idaho,” Helen said.

“That’s what I tell them.”

“What do you say when they ask why you aren’t going?”

I set the shovel against the house.

“I say I wasn’t asked.”

At six I unplugged the charger from the wall and wound the cord around my hand.

Helen was in the wing chair with her glasses pushed up on her head.