Chapter 20

“Try me. Try me,” Frank said. He opened wide, but the flung cookie chunk flew several feet to the right of him. “Tomorrow I’ll bring over a baseball,” he declared. “We’ll work on throwing. Your turn again.”

Liam tried to stop laughing long enough hold his mouth open for another try. He couldn’t quite do it.

“Okay, okay. Enough of that. How about a drink?” Frank poured some milk from his glass into the saucer his cookie had sat upon. “Fresh, cold, delicious…kitty-cat style.” He bent over and lapped at the drink with his tongue, and that made Liam giggle more.

Poor Liam had probably been working so hard—trying with every ounce of concentration and strength he could muster—before Frank had sat down. Marion’s frustration was understandable. Still, a little immature fun would be motivating.

Liam lapped between giggles at the milk Frank had poured. The one not laughing, upon her return, was Marion. She picked up a rolled newspaper and swatted Frank upside the head.