The whole family gathered around the fire for our seasonal burning of dried cornstalk. While my brothers and sisters were captivated by the swirling glow, my eyes were captured by the sky. Beyond the field of golden rye, a buzzard circled the pasture.

"Tag!" I'm tapped on the shoulder. "Aw man!" Roy is already sprinting the other way, but closest to me is Alice. She sees me and starts down the hill, screaming and laughing. "Come here!" As she reaches the bottom, she screams, but this time, it didn't sound like the playful kind

Jerry glanced down at the photograph in his hand, then back up again at the woman sitting alone at the back of the cafe.