“Charlie, have you ever noticed how different some people are?”
“How do you mean?”
“Well, take your Aunt Felice and Uncle Harry.”

Uncle Harry’s birthday celebration was finished. The children were sleeping over with friends, so the house was quiet. Cheryl and Charlie had attended the party, presenting Harry with Cheryl’s handknit sweater. He took it from her, commenting, “I didn’t know Charlie could knit so well.” Harry studied the present, the veins in his eyes branching. “I bought a sweater like this one time. Only, it was a little fancier.”

“I think your Aunt Felice is pretty nice, Charlie.”
“She is.”
His tooth brushing and flossing over, Charlie was in bed next to Cheryl, who had turned to a new project.
“How did she end up with such a jerk as your Uncle?”
“You know. People change.”
“He wasn’t such a jerk once?”
“No. It’s just that Felice has gotten a lot better.”

Cheryl had a vest in mind for Kim, their daughter.
“So, I guess there’s a chance for all of us,” said Charlie, referring to his Aunt.
Cheryl put her yarn down.
“No,” she said. “Just for some of us, Charlie.”