Leo swallowed and looked down at the yellow linoleum floor. The rain had lightened up outside and was coming down through the trees like wet whispers. The bark on the pines looked rust-colored. “What’s this Asian conflict about anyway? I don’t even know what it’s about.”

“That’d be a damn good thing to write a song on.”

“No, really. What are we fighting over there for? I don’t get it. And what is so bad about communists? If Chick Donovan’s one, how bad can they be?”

Ryder drank from his beer and nodded his head as if Leo had just made a very good point. “All I know, Young Buddy, is nobody’s cozy talk is worth a tune when you’re out there scared shitless, and freezin’, and having a loud ugly hand in human death. To this day I cannot tell you what business we had in a civil war in Korea. But like I tell your pop, you stand a damn good chance of not even having to serve. So cross your fingers and forget about it is all I can tell you.”

Leo looked outside where the last of the sun had broken through, and the pine needles glistened in the branches. He pictured Jim standing on the gravel down at the river, swaying a little on his feet.

Ryder walked into the parlor, then called Leo in for harp lesson number three. He had his harness on and after he warmed up with an A harp, he pulled out a C and started to sing:

“Allie’s got a neck,
A neck so fine,
I want to kiss it,
Kiss it all the time–”

Ryder began to play a riff for the words when Leo shook his head and put up his hand to stop him. “We can’t do that one.”

“We can’t? I came up with a melody for it.”

“She’s my girlfriend now.”

“You work fast, kid.”

“Not as fast as her.” Leo’s face got hot and he wanted to explain what he meant but the truth was in the heat of his cheeks and Ryder was drawing it in.

“I don’t mean to pry, Leo, but humor your Uncle Ryder here and let him know you’re taking precautions.”

“Sure thing. Hey, listen to this.” Leo started right in on the fo-wah see-you combo. He used as much air as he could without ruining a reed and he went too fast at first but when he saw Ryder smile he relaxed and brought the tune down to its natural rhythm. He closed his throat and fanned his cupped hand and finished off with a long squeezed See you you you you.

“Hot damnit, kid, that’s one heck of a start. Here, do it again and I’ll hop in on my G.”