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I started laughing.

He pointed at me. “You’ll feel bad when you find out there is an entirely reasonable explanation.”

“I already don't believe you. Is the reasonable explanation in the room with us?”

“You should have more faith in me.”

“I've known you too long.”

The front door opened. Nobody paid any attention at first. Doors opened constantly between our two houses. Someone was always coming or going.

Then a woman's voice floated in from the hall. “Hello?”

Marion wasn’t home yet. Sunshine wasn't either.

Ruckus leaned around the kitchen doorway.

“Hey, Mrs. Keller.”

“Hey, honey. Your mom around?”

“Not yet.”

Our neighbor from the far side of the Bishop property appeared briefly in the doorway, holding an empty casserole dish. She lived far enough away that walking over meant an actual walk, though that had never stopped her. “I've had this thing for two weeks and if I don't bring it back now I'll forget again.”

“Counter's fine,” Ruckus told her.

She set it down, noticed me, and smiled. “Hey, Hazel.”

“Hi, Mrs. Keller.”

Then her eyes went toward the windows.

She paused.

“Is that a goat in Carter's truck?”

We all looked at Clayton. He rubbed a hand down his face.

Mrs. Keller laughed. “Never mind. I don't want to know.”

“Smart woman,” I told her.

She pointed at me. “That's why I've survived this long.”

Then she was gone.

“You need to move that goat before Dad gets home,” Ruckus told him reasonably.

Clayton glanced at the clock. “I've got time. Relax.”

A car door slammed outside.

Clayton went very still. The kitchen went quiet.

Footsteps.

Then silence.