It was about Mason finding words he could use without fear.

PART 15

Spring in Billings arrived slowly.

Dirty piles of snow shrank along the streets, and patches of grass began showing near the school playground.

Mason wanted to learn to ride a larger bicycle.

Lauren had already taught him the basics on a smaller one, and she asked whether I could help him practice braking and turning in an empty parking lot near the park.

I arrived with a properly fitted helmet and a small toolkit.