Chapter 7

“’Morning, kids. Sorry about that, Thaddeus.” He looked sheepish. “I’m not a morning person.”

“That’s okay, Mr. Tom.”

“Y’know, if you two are going to be around….”

Becca looked interested.

“… around more, I mean, maybe you can just call me Tom.”

“Oh, no! Daddy wouldn’t like it.”

“Well, I don’t like being called Mr. Tom. I sound like I’m your Thanksgiving dinner.”

Tad and Becca both laughed.

“Uncle Tom?”

Mr. Tom flinched. “Good God, no! That makes me sound like a book by Harriet Beecher Stowe! And before you suggest it, UT is out also. People will think I’m half a urinary tract infection!”

UT—standing for Uncle Tom. Tad laughed harder.

“May I think about what to call you?” Becca asked.

“Of course. You can think about it for a while too, if you like, Thaddeus.”

“Oh, no. I know what I’m going to call you.”

“You do? Am I going to be sorry?”

“I don’t think so.”

“All right. Tell me.”

“JT.”