The Chair He Bought, The Dog They Tried to Take, and the Choice

of lakes nobody in this building had swum in.

Past quiet rooms with televisions murmuring.

Barnaby walked slowly at my side, like he understood this was serious.

A woman in a wheelchair reached out.

“May I?” she asked, voice small.

I nodded.

She touched Barnaby’s head and immediately began to cry.

“I had one,” she whispered. “Before my daughter said I couldn’t continue reading …