"Wanted me to give you the good word."
The old man walked through the doorway into the little bunk room and VB heard him flop into the crude bed.
A short interval of silence.
"Jed," called VB, "ever hear where his daughter went to school?"
A long yawn. Then:
"Yep—don't remember."
Another pause.
"She was over, too."
"Oh-ho-o-o!"
The boy felt himself flushing, and then sat bolt upright, wondering soberly and seriously why it should be so—without reason.