I thought that meant they were his friends.”

“He may have learned real stories from other people,” I said.

“Then I hope I never mistake someone knowing the words for someone living by them again.”

We sat in silence a while.

Then she asked whether we could stop for ingredients to make lemon cake.

She hadn’t baked one in months; Wendell said sugar was wasteful.

We bought butter, lemons, flour, and powdered sugar.

The smallest act of freedom can sometimes fit into a paper grocery bag.