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Back The Cloud Chamber
Chapters (35)
  1. Cover
  2. Title Page
  3. Dedication
  4. Acknowledgments
  5. Author’s Note
  6. One
  7. Two
  8. Three
  9. Four
  10. Five
  11. Six
  12. Seven
  13. Eight
  14. Nine
  15. Ten
  16. Eleven
  17. Twelve
  18. Thirteen
  19. Fourteen
  20. Fifteen
  21. Sixteen
  22. Seventeen
  23. Eighteen
  24. Nineteen
  25. Twenty
  26. Twenty-One
  27. Twenty-Two
  28. Twenty-Three
  29. Twenty-Four
  30. Twenty-Five
  31. Twenty-Six
  32. Twenty-Seven
  33. Twenty-Eight
  34. Twenty-Nine
  35. Thirty

Inside was a newspaper clipping from the Missoulian, with a picture of one of the Russian Sputnik satellites lifting off into space, a plume of flame behind it. The date was 1960. Three months before Nate’s seventh birthday.

There was a Sweetgrass County Pioneers baseball cap, his father’s team from school days, with a note pinned to the brim: For my son, Nathan. Future pitching star. There was a Mounds wrapper with a bit of coconut and chocolate still smeared on the inside. There was a small blue plastic cowboy—that would have been Nate’s contribution—and a penny dated 1959. A baseball card—Roger Maris, outfield, New York Yankees, 1960. A piece of paper with a series of numbers on it so long, it covered the page—pi. A seed packet labeled FORGET-ME-NOT and, inside, a lock of red hair.

At the bottom of the box there was a stack of old newspaper comics, and lying on the top was an envelope marked in his dad’s firm hand: To whom it may concern . . . and chances are this means you, Nate!

Nate showed the envelope to his friends, then very slowly opened it and started reading the letter inside:

It’s Monday afternoon, March 21st, 1960, and you and I are sitting here, digesting a chocolate bar, waiting for the eclipse. Any day now, there’s going to be a baby born in our family, and you’ll be a big brother. I know you’ll be a great one.

Someday, when you read this, I hope you know how proud and happy you make me. There might be other things that don’t always go the way I hoped they would in life, but one thing that has never disappointed me is you.

Just so you’re clear on this: I love you and your mother a whole big bunch. I hope I can do right by the two of you and whoever it is we haven’t met yet that’s on the way. I may not be the world’s most reliable guy and I don’t blame your mom faulting me for it But one thing’s for sure. There’s nothing in the world I want more than to see you have a big interesting life for yourself. The possibilities are endless. Don’t you forget it.

Got to go now, almost time for the eclipse. Catch you when you grow up!

Love,

Dad

At the bottom of the letter his dad had drawn an arrow, with the words Turn this over.

Nate had to compose himself for a second. He didn’t want Larry and Naomi to see him with tears in his eyes. He read what was written on the back.