people without letting them know. Something Steve had learned to live with but not exactly tolerate. The trick was to make sure not to work on anything too important during daylight hours. He removes the welding goggles and walks out into the back yard calling out to the visitor: “I’M AROUND BACK!”

He is surprised again to hear his own voice being used like a playback of an old recording. It’s been a few days since he talked with another person.

An old man sticks his head around the corner with a smile and a wink. It’s old Sean. Some considered him the village idiot, but Steve had a soft spot for him.

He was that type of guy who tried to hang on to his youth, or maybe other peoples, by making