“Selling houses is not exactly earth-shattering, Nate,” she protested, though her cheeks warmed at his praise.
“Really? How much volunteer work do you do? How much time and money do you donate to special causes? Just because you're not famous doesn't mean you're not making a difference. You and Miss McCormick are a better example than most of the airheads I'm going to graduate with in May.
“Anyway, I've got to get to studying. I've got a physics test tomorrow, unless we get lucky and school gets canceled because of the snow.”
He stood up, finished his tea, and walked out, leaving his mother staring at him thoughtfully.
*****
By the next morning, there was eight inches of snow on the ground.
Nate got up early, woken by the low growl of snow-blowers. Cursing softly, he dressed in his w
