It was cold even though the rain
had ended and the sun now peeked out from behind the clouds. In Wisconsin the coldest days were always the
sunniest.
His father came up from behind him. “Farmer’s Almanac says it’s going to be a wet
winter.”
Jonah nodded,
lost in an abstraction.
“Have
something to tell you," Dale said.
Jonah
looked over at his father.
“I’m moving to Florida.”
“You are?" Jonah exclaimed. "When?”
“Tomorrow. No point in staying here. The realtor says I’ll make a mint on the
house, and I have a condo down there.
Bought it with your mother right before she got sick.” Dale cleared his throat. “Be nice if you could visit. The condo has a guestroom. You’re welcome to use it."
“Right," Jonah said slowly. "Thanks."
His
father nodded. “Okay, then. Tell Jackie I said goodbye.”
“You’re
not going to tell him yourself?”
“He’s
busy tonight. Something about a poker
game, and I didn’t get a chance to tell him before that. The movers are coming Saturday. You mind checking in, to make sure they’re
doing things right?”
“…Okay."
“Maybe you can come in April. April’s real nice there—not too humid. We could go to Disneyworld, or Universal
Studios. Always wanted to take you boys
there when you were young, but...” Dale
cleared his throat again. “Okay,
then. Be good.”