“Make sure the board members can see the microphone clearly before the commander gets here,” Daniel said.

At one forty the caterers served chicken salad on china plates.

My cousin Ashley sat straight across the linen table from me, holding her cell phone up in both hands.

She tipped the phone up to catch my expression as I picked up my fork.

“Check out this row of ribbons,” Ashley said, her thumb hovering over the red record button.

“Are those real awards, or did you get them in a bundle at the base store?” Ashley asked.