Chapter 17

* * * *

Dale woke up. No one was there when he did. It was a normal overcast Thursday just after lunch time. No one even noticed for thirty minutes. His spouse was called first. The spouse didn’t answer the phone. His parents were called next. They rushed to the hospital, calling the spouse. The spouse didn’t answer. Their son wanted him. They called the spouse. The spouse called back. The gathering began.

* * * *

Dale was fine, just weak and tired with an out of focus memory. Once home, he only left the house once or twice a week because River wanted to get him outside. He rejected anything like sitting in the park or seeing a live band play.

“Since when did you like stuff like that?” he asked.

But since when did someone stay the same? They went to the same dinner spots they used to go to every week instead. Sometimes with the same people that they used to always meet. Sometimes with Dale’s parents.