Chapter 54

John and Joe retrieved their clothes, dressed, and returned to the bedroom. We all sat and visited for a bit, and John said, “Was this really your boyhood room?”

“Well, the room was mine, but this guy had all of our bedroom furniture moved over here from our house while I was in the hospital.”

“Before I forget, your wheelchair arrived while you were in the bathroom,” I said. “We can wheel you down to dinner.”

“Good, because I’m not up to walking again right now. Wasn’t that the door I just heard?”

“I think so,” I said. “I’m still getting used to all the sounds of this house.”

Then we heard the clatter of toenails on the wood floor in the hall, and Lance bounded into the room. He went straight to Charles, jumped up, and started licking his face. “Lance,” he said, “it’s good to see you too, boy.”

Richard and Bruce came into the room, the latter carrying Lance’s bed. Bruce said, “Where do you want it?”

I pointed to a far corner of the room and said, “Over there will be fine.”