“You are thinking of the past." I put my arms around her. She'd risen from childbed too soon. "We are the past," she said.”

“She didn't want to be reminded of her past or how different her present was from the future she'd taken for granted.”

“The sun came through the branches of the tree above her, and Ruth looked up past them. "I think she listens," she said, too softly to be heard.”

“Well, for instance, when I left her today, she put her arms around me and felt my shoulder blades, to see if my wings were strong, she said.”

“Want to make it a date, haircut?' she asked. 'As soon as I can scrape together the cash for the train ticket?'What's with the "haircut," kiddo?' he asked. 'I thought we were past that.'We'll never be past that,' she said.”

“He put his arms around her. “Well, in my defense, then, whatever I did seemed to work, didn't it?”She sighed. “I suppose.”“You suppose?”“What do you want? A medal?”“For starters. A trophy would be nice, too.”She smiled. “What do you think you're holding right now?”