I didn’t see Jason, for twenty years, to the day. Christmas Eve, 1989, I returned to Fries to visit my parents. When I arrived home, they told me that Jason had returned to Fries, and was the Galax City Engineer. He was also on the Fries School Board, and would be leading the annual Christmas Eve Lighting ceremony at the school that night. I walked the two blocks from my parent’s home to the school, and stood in the shivering crowd. After a series of Christmas Carols, Jason stepped to the front, and began to speak.
“On behalf of the Fries School Board, I’d like to thank all of you who have come out tonight….” he began, and then I saw his eyes as they locked on me. I grinned, waved, and he suddenly flashed a big smile. He moved his mouth as if to say something, then stopped, and turn
