Another man came walking up to Grandma, all stoop-backed and stammery. His clothes were more raggedy than everybody else’s, his tie loose and his suit wrinkled. He had bloodshot eyes, and his hands trembled as he stood there.

“Mena,” he said.

Grandma ignored him.

“Are these the children?” he said. “Please, Mena.”

Grandma ushered us down the aisle, away from him. I turned to look back, and he stood there miserably, hunched and lonesome and defeated.

“Who was that?” said Murphy.

“You are not to speak to that man,” said Grandma. “No matter what.”

“Why not?” I said.

“Some people simply cannot be helped,” she said. “And one mustn’t waste one’s time on lost causes.”

And she wouldn’t say another word about him.

After an hour of shopping and handshakes, we finally had all our groceries, and it was a shit-ton of food, way more than I thought we could eat in a week. The cashier, an old man in a black smock and a bowler hat, just waved us through.

“On the house, Mrs. Sanford,” said the man.

“Why, thank you, George,” she said.

George reached over the counter and took my hand and clasped it in both of his.

“It’s an honor to meet you, son,” he said. “It truly is.”

“You have no idea,” said Grandma. “I’m quite astonished by both of my grandchildren. They will do me proud, I reckon.”

Grandma flashed me her biggest smile.

Chapter 22

We had a nice ride back home, the afternoon sunlight on the green world around us, Grandma cranking the radio to an oldies station, singing along. She seemed happy, proud of us, so glad we were there. Even Murphy smiled a little, until she realized she’d forgotten to buy a phone charger. Murphy kept demanding Grandma turn around, but Grandma refused. Besides, there wouldn’t be any cell phone service at the Farm anyhow, so what was the point? To be honest, I’d forgotten I even had a phone, it had been dead for so long. I hadn’t missed it, not once. That made me pretty happy because it meant that I had everything I needed—and everyone I loved—right there with me. Why in the world would I ever need a phone again? I almost laughed out loud at the thought of it, the freedom I felt. By the time we neared the Farm, I doubted you could have found a happier person on the planet.

But when we drove through the gate and down the driveway, Grandma slammed on the brakes.