My Daughter Said “we Need A Break” Two Days Before Christmas

around to it. Like they hadn’t planned to be here.

I looked at the photos on the wall. Posed smiles at a pumpkin patch. A beach trip where everyone squinted. Not a single picture where anyone looked relaxed.

Then I made two phone calls.

The first was to my brother-in-law, Gerald. He’s a locksmith in Decatur. Retired, mostly, but he still keeps his tools.continue reading …