ItwasearlyOctober1946,andNoahCalhounwatchedthefadingsunsinklowerfromthearoundporchofhisplantation-stylehome.Helikedtosithereintheevenings,especiallyafterwhardallday,ahisthoughtswahoutsciousdire.Itwashowherelaxed,aroutinehedlearnedfromhisfather.

    Heespeciallylikedtolookatthetreesandtheirreflesintheriver.NorthCarolinatreesarebeautifuliumn:greens,yellows,reds,es,everyshadeiween.Theirdazzlingclowwiththesun,andforthehuime,NoahCalhounwoheinalownersofthehousehadspenttheireveningsthinkingthesamethings.

    Thehousewasbuiltin1772,makingitoheoldest,aswellaslargest,homesinNewBern.inallyitwasthemainhouseonawplantation,andhehadboughtitrightafterthewarendedandhadspeelevenmonthsandasmallfortunerepairingit.ThereporterfromtheRaleighpaperhaddoneanartiitafewweeksagoandsaiditwasohefirestorationshedeverseen.Atleastthehousewas.Theremainingpropertywasaory,andthatwaswherehedspentmostoftheday.

    ThehomesatontwelveacresadjattoBricesCreek,andhedworkedonthewoodehatliheotherthreesidesoftheproperty,chegfordryrotortermites,replagpostswheo.Hestillhadmoreworktodoonit,especiallyoside,andashedputthetoolsawayearlierhedmadeamentalocallandhavesomemorelumberdelivered.Hedgoothehouse,drunkaglassofsweettea,thenshowered.Healwaysshoweredattheendoftheday,thewaterwashingawaybothdirtandfatigue.

    Afterwardhedbedhishairback,putonsomefadedjeansandalong-sleevedblueshirt,pouredhimselfanlassofsweettea,andgoheporch,wherehenowsat,wherehesateverydayatthistime.

    Hestretchedhisarmsabovehishead,thenoutto