“Hello. Where’s everybody? Jason, what time do we need…”
“In here, Dad. It was canceled.”
“Oh, good. I know I’m late.”
“Johnny.” The voice was Julia’s. “Come in here. You’d better see this, too.
“See what?”
“Shh. There’s been a horrible accident. Jason thinks he might know…”
“I know. I know I know ʼem. I know just about everybody in school.”
“Oh, I heard something on the radio. There weren’t any details.”
“Shh. They’re coming on again. It’s live, team coverage.”
Filling the picture of the TV screen in the Panuzio living room was the sheared base of a four-inch tree; then panning forward, there were broken branches, leaves, a mishmash jungle of sticks and greens nearly hiding the rear end of a car, only the reflection of the taillights allowing the viewer to find the spot of focus.
