I Called Three Investigators to My Nephew’s Birthday Party

and yelled, “CAKE.”

That broke it.

Not the tension. Just the spell.

I handed him to Evan this time.

He took him.

What Was Left After

People started leaving in clumps.

Not because anyone announced it. Because that’s what people do when they’ve accidentally attended a family collapse in flip-flops.

A few offered awkward hugs to my mother.

My father disappeared continue reading …