Free Going in Style by Robert Grossbach Page B

that led to the tiny backyard. “Kevin!” he called, and waited. There was no answer. “Kevin, what
     are you doing?”
    “Digging,” came a small voice.
    “Well, get up from there,” said Pete. “Where’s Colleen?”
    “On the side.”
    “Well, go get her. Uncle Al is here.”
    Kevin ran to find his sister, and Pete put his hand on Al’s shoulder. “Al, I’m sorry, but I gotta get outa here now. You gonna
     stay for dinner? I’m sure Kath and the kids would love to have you.”
    “Nah, thanks, not today,” said Al. “I gotta go meet Joe and Willie soon.”
    Pete nodded. “Okay. Up to you. I’ll see you then, huh?”
    “Yeah, Pete, okay. Don’t work too hard, hear?”
    Pete kissed Kathy good-bye, then left the room. At the doorway, Al saw Colleen’s round face peek quickly in, then move away.
     He pretended not to notice. Again, the little girl poked her head around till she was just in view, then withdrew. Once more,
     Al feigned oblivon. The peek-a-boo game continued for another minute until Kevin ran in from behind his sister.
    “Hello, Uncle Al!” he said, not stopping in the kitchen, but rushing on into the living room.
    Shyly, Colleen pushed open the door. Al knelt and opened his arms wide. “How’s my beautiful princess today?”
    Colleen giggled, then charged into his loving embrace. “Good,” she said.
    “Yeah?”
    “Uh, huh.”
    Al smothered her with hugs and kisses. “Were you teasing Uncle Al before?” he asked.
    “No.”
    “But you kept peeking in.”
    “You saw me?”
    “Sure. I see everything. How come you didn’t just march right over?”
    Colleen moved her eyes back and forth. “Mmm… I thought you were a monster.”
    “A monster?”
    “Uh, huh.”
    “Naw. How could Uncle Al be a monster?”
    “Well, I
thought.”
She paused. “But then I saw you wasn’t.”
    “Thank you,” said Al. “Now, tell me, what were you doing outside.”
    “Planting,” said the little girl.
    “Planting what?”
    “Seeds. Kevin pulls up the grass, and I plant it so it will grow again.”
    “I see,” said Al. “Very nice.”
    “Will it be grown yesterday?” asked Colleen.
    “She means tomorrow,” explained Kathy. “She confuses yesterday and tomorrow.”
    “Oh…” said Al. “Well, I think it’ll take longer than tomorrow to grow.”
    “It won’t grow?” said Colleen.
    “It’ll grow,” said Al. “It just takes time.”
    “Why don’t you show Uncle Al the pictures you made?” suggested Kathy.
    “I made pictures?” said Colleen.
    “You remember.… Think.”
    The little girl smiled sheepishly. “I drew them.”
    “You did?”
    “Uh, huh.”
    “You think I’d be able to see them?”
    “Nuh, uh.”
    “Colleen!” chided Kathy.
    “Okay, you could see them.”
    “Well, where are they?” asked Al.
    “Upstairs,” said Colleen. “And I drew them myself. And Kevin didn’t help me.”
    “I believe you,” said Al.
    “You want to come with me to see them?”
    “Do you want me to?” asked Al.
    “Yes.”
    “Well, okay, then.” He turned to Kathy. “See you in a while.”
    “Follow me,” said Colleen. “Make believe I’m a master and you’re a dog, and you have to follow me.”
    “Okay.” Al’s newspaper was still folded under his arm as they left the kitchen. At the staircase, he called quietly up to
     the little girl. “You go ahead, sweetheart, and I’ll be there in a minute.”
    “But you’re my dog and you have to follow me,” said Colleen.
    “I will,” said Al. “I have to get something… a leash. Go ahead, I’ll be right up.”
    Colleen looked at him suspiciously, hesitated, then went on up. Al checked to be sure that Kathy was still in the kitchen
     before he moved over to open the basement door. His footsteps sounded to him like thunderclaps as he descended the stairs.
     At the bottom, he spread his newspaper carefully on a table next to the gun cabinet. Reaching up, his gnarled fingers probed
     the top surface of the wood and