“You had braces back then,” he said. “And a cute little behind.” His memory for certain things, apparently, was flawless.
“I’m sorry,” Willa said quietly as she led Phyllis into the house. “He’s at that age, if you know what I mean, when he thinks he can say anything and it makes him sound interesting.”
Left to himself, Sid proceeded to hang the lights. Inside, Willa served Phyllis tea, then they finished trimming the tree together. Willa had thought that chore was done, but Phyllis spied an unused box of ornaments on the floor and suggested she lend a hand to finish the job. Willa was relieved to have something to do besides stare at each other while they chatted. They could hear Sid tap-tapping as he drove the little insulated nails into the roof beams.
“Where did you say George was?”
