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His ma was asleep at the kitchen table.

Hollis took the empty mug and plate from in front of her and put them away.

Then he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and stayed still until she woke up.

“You’re cold.”

“I was outside. Sorry for worrying you.”

Mrs. Brown sighed and looked at him with dark eyes.

“Did you do it?” she asked. They must have called home about him.

She asked it plain: without judgment, resignation, disappointment, or anger.

Hollis came from hard people.

“No.”

His ma believed him.

“Okay.”