My Father Tossed a Blue Savings Passbook into the Mud at Cedar Ridge

He pulled a silver ballpoint pen from his suit pocket and clicked it twice.

He reached over and picked up the muddy blue passbook.

He closed it carefully, running his thumb over the dried mud on the cover.

Then he reached across the marble counter and flipped Lauren’s plastic sign to CLOSED.

“Miss, I need you to come with me right now,” Mr.

Miller said.

“Am I in trouble?” I asked.

“Are you calling the police on me?”