Lisa returned to the Smithy home two hours after she had left. Mr. Smithy was sitting in a rocking chair hidden behind the Rose bushes and he looked as grumpy as ever. In his hands was an ancient looking book and it seemed like he had read it many times before already.
Lisa waved to him cheerily as she opened the fence gate. "Sorry I left so early this morning. I couldn't sleep in for some reason."
Mr. Smithy grumbled something inaudible and went back to reading the book with great intensity. He seemed to be more annoyed at her interrupting his reading time instead of leaving unannounced. Lisa came up to stand on the porch with him and he once again glared at her.
"Is Mrs. Smithy still here?" Lisa asked unworried by his unhappy reply.
"Mmm hmm." Mr. Smithy replied with a simple nod. He them immersed himself into the yellowed pages of the book giving of clear signals to her that he might not tolerate further interruptions.