AFTER A LONG and solitary summer, Fritz Russell had frittered away another hot August day preparing for the new school year. As he reached for the front porch light switch, the doorbell chimed. The outside light threw shadows in its forty-watt beam. A familiar face, with shoulder length hair and a full, unkempt beard stared in at him.
AFTER A LONG“Good to see you, Ash.” He held the screen door open. Not sure what to expect after two months, Fritz reserved his joy.
“I saw the light on. Then I saw the family room light go off.” Ashley remained motionless on the porch. “It"s late.” He apologized with a shrug.
“Come on in. Not like I have anywhere to go.”
Ashley downed a first glass of soda and poured another. Across the kitchen table, Fritz waited to hear a story, of where Ashley had been
