The metal teeth scraped together.

I stepped out onto the concrete porch.

The single yellow porch light cast long shadows over the white rental car parked in the driveway.

The wind picked up and rattled the bare branches of the oak tree in the front yard.

Ranata followed me outside into the cold air.

She didn’t grab her wool coat from the rack.

“Dad, please,” Ranata said.

Arthur didn’t look at her.