Chapter 27

“I can leave anytime I want. But Officer Ruiz said he’d be right back so I’m waiting.”

Philip said it was a comforting thought. “We’ll surely count on his return.”

“I know I will,” the kid said. Then, “My name’s Ambrose. I’m almost twelve. Mama says I’m diminutive for my age. You don’t know what that word means you can look it up.”

Mother was staring out the window at a man carrying a large screen TV. He noticed her watching him and moved in for a closer look. Seemingly without a second thought, she whipped off her wig to reveal a completely bald head and simultaneously wiggled her fingers and stuck out her tongue.

The man jumped back from the patrol car and ran off.

“My name’s Philip,” he said. “And this, fanfare please, is my mother.”

He tapped her on the shoulder to get her attention, and then pointed to the wig in her lap. “I think you should put that back on, don’t you?”

He helped her center the wig on her head, perhaps a bit too roughly.