Chapter 58

“What’s up, big guy?” I said.

“Wanta watch the movie with us?” Rion said.

“Okay,” Jamie said. He got on the sofa, squeezed in between us, and focused his attention on the film. By the time the movie had ended, he was sound asleep, so we carried him upstairs and put him to bed.

“I wonder what that was about?” Rion said as we settled back in the den.

“I can guess.”

“Well?”

“Remember what Philip told us. Jamie and his mother lived in a tiny apartment. That would have enforced a certain amount of togetherness.”

“So?” Rion said.

“Add to that the fact that he just lost his mother, and I think he was feeling lonesome, book notwithstanding, and wanted company.”

“Then why didn’t he say so?”

“Babe, he’s only five—at that age, feeling a need and articulating it are two different things, no matter how intelligent you are.”

“Yeah. Now that you mention it, that probably holds true for a lot of adults as well.”

“Let’s go upstairs and get naked,” I said.