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down, I finished eating and washed and put away my

dishes, the pancake skillet, and silverware. By the

time everything was cleared away and cleaned. I

heard Daddy's truck pull up in front of the house. I

stepped out to greet them.

"Morning, Honey," Daddy called.

"Did you make yourself some breakfast, dear?"

Mommy asked immediately.

"Yes," I said. "Sorry I slept so late."

"That's all right. We were glad you got

whatever rest you needed, dear,"' Mommy said. She looked very pretty and fresh this morning,

and I thought Daddy was very handsome in his sports

jacket, tie, and slacks. Mommy paused to kiss me on

the forehead. Then her eyes got small and dark. "He bother you any this morning?"

"I haven't seen or heard him."

"Grandad's up in the west field, probably,"

Daddy said. "There's a wooded place there he's used

on Sunday as his private church for years

I knew the place. Because Grandad Forman put

such a holy stamp on it and because it was his private

place. I stayed away from it.

"He's been troubling," Mommy told Daddy.

"And I don't mean just the incident yesterday with

Honey and Chandler, Isaac. There's a new madness in

him. When he came at you yesterday. I thought he

would swing that machete for sure," Mommy said.

"He's mumbling to himself and talking to the shadows

more than ever. It's not good."

Daddy nodded and gazed toward the west field. "I know." he said. "He and I worked together as

usual afterward, but he would barely speak to me and