“Mom, how much is 8+13?”
“I can’t just tell you the answers. You have to learn it… What do you want for lunch?”
“Anything but PBJ… Is it 21?”
“Uh-huh, 21 is right.” she pauses, her hand still grasping a jar of jelly, “Billy, I thought PBJ was your favorite?”
“It is. But Tommy can’t eat peanut butter – it gives him… Ana-ful-axis.”
“Why is Tommy eating your sandwich?” She opens the pantry for a can of tuna fish.
“Oh, I shared mine with him because he didn’t have any – I’m done with my homework. Can I go play outside now?”
“Yes… But be back before dark”, She yells after him.

Smiling, she makes 2 sandwiches, and puts them both into a paper bag. Then, with a black marker, she writes “Billy Smith”, and as an afterthought, adds “+ Tommy”. Looking at the 2 names, a hint of nostalgia strikes her. On a whim, she opens her purse and fishes out a worn address book.
“Hi, is this Maggie Cox?”… “It’s Jen Smith. Something happened today that reminded me of you”…“I just wanted to call and say thank you.”