“Well, it’s good you enjoyed it, because after tonight you’ll probably develop an eye infection from rubbing that filthy dog blanket on your face and you’ll wake up blind.”

“It’s not filthy,” I said. “It smells like Terry Johnson.”

“Exactly.”

“He’s a little bear. He smells like the great outdoors. John Muir had a dog like Terry.”

“Did he really?”

“Well. It was his friend’s dog, Stickeen.”

“Stickeen? What kind of a dog name is that?”

Terry Johnson and I exchanged a look. “Muir borrowed him to explore Alaska together. He had to make little leather booties for Stickeen’s paws to protect them from the ice and snow. He was a super-lazy dog; he wouldn’t help hunt, he was stubborn. Played by his own rules.”

“You hear that, Terry Johnson? You’re probably related.”

I yawned. “Well, I think I’ve hit my limit,” I said. I got up from the couch and headed toward the stairs.

“Hey,” Francine said. I stopped and turned. “Kira brought a present for you. I put it in your room.”

“Thanks.” I took the steps slowly. Tired. Happy.

Upstairs, the room was glowing warm with even more Christmas lights Francine had strung on all the walls while I was gone. I stood and held my hands up in the colors. What a thoughtful thing for her to do.

For me.

On the dresser was an odd-shaped package wrapped in butcher paper and tied with twine.

A little version of the Terry Johnson sculpture. A perfect likeness.

The lights blurred through my tears, and I set him on the bedside table where I would see him first thing every morning.

I picked up the stack of clothes from the dresser top, opened a drawer, put them in, and closed it.

I carry with me, when I can find it, a pack of Fruit Stripe gum.

Grocery stores in spring are the best-smelling places on the planet for a kid. For a kid that is me. Stores are smart, all the candy is on the low shelves, and I loved nothing more than touching and holding the slippery bags of jelly beans and smelling them through the plastic. Bulk-candy aisles were even better. I lifted lids on bins of gummy bears and sour worms. But best of all were the jelly beans right there, unwrapped, fresh and sweet and shiny. Little gem beans with scent so specific. I loved it so much.