But when they got back to the shack, Reed was sitting at the table, bags under his eyes. He had a bowl and spoon in front of him and a box of cereal off to the side. He didn’t smile when they came in, or offer any greeting. Pip stepped behind Spud’s left leg.

“Have a nice walk?” Reed asked, his tone anything but pleasant.

“We were exploring,” Spud said.

“You had your breakfast?” Reed asked.

Spud had made himself a meal of bacon and eggs before Pip woke up. Pip liked to make his own meal by pouring a bowl of cereal while Spud cleaned up the dishes. The frying pan and plate Spud had used that morning were in the drainer. Spud glanced at them, wondering where Reed was going. “I had bacon and eggs.” He pointed at the dishes. “Pip had cereal.”

“I know Pip had cereal,” Reed said. “And do you know how I know that Pip had cereal?”

Reed looked at Pip, as if waiting for his son to answer. Then he said, “You left the milk out.” Reed pointed at the jug on the counter beside the fridge. Spud hadn’t noticed it there before he took Pip for their walk.

“That’s my bad,” Spud said, crossing the room and picking up the milk.

“Don’t make excuses for him,” Reed said, still looking at Pip. “He left it out and now it’s warm.”

Spud put the milk into the refrigerator. “It was an accident, Reed.”

“I said don’t make excuses.” Reed stood so fast and hard that he knocked his chair backwards. “You left the milk out, Pip. Now I can’t eat my cereal because the milk’s warm. This is our only jug of milk—and it’s ruined.”

Pip backed up toward a corner. Spud started to walk to him but Reed held out an arm. “That’s your mother’s doing. She taught you to be irresponsible… lazy. Well, that stops now.”

Reed stomped over to Pip and grabbed him by the back of his coat. “You’re gonna stand outside for a while and think about what you did.”

“He’s probably cold, Reed. We just—”

Reed shot a finger in Spud’s direction, his face red with anger. “You stay the hell out of my business.” He half carried, half shoved Pip out the door. “I’m sick and tired of people telling me how to raise my kid. He’s gonna be a man if I have to kick him there myself.”

Reed stopped in the middle of the yard, planted Pip there, and said, “You stand here until I tell you that you can move. Maybe next time you’ll be a little more careful.”

From the front door of the shack, Spud could see a tear glistening on Pip’s cheek, but Reed didn’t care a lick. The Reed who talked Spud into this plan had been a gentle man, worried about his son’s safety. He had cried when he told Spud about the ache he had in his heart. Had that all been an act?