ewell-heeleddoctors,abevyofnurses,andfartoomanyfiremenandpoli,bakedtanandswaggering.Afterthefireworks,shenoticedheroldsweetheartinthepanyofanewgirlandinsistedthatwesayhello.IcouldnotshakethesensationthatIhadknownhimfrommyformerlife.

    "Henry,yourememberBrianUngerland."Weshookhands,aroducedhisnewgirlfriendtousboth.Thewomenslippedawaytoparenotes.

    "So,Ungerland,thatsanunusualname."

    "German."Hesippedhisbeer,staredatthewomen,whowerelaughinginanoverlypersonalway.

    "YourfamilyfromGermany?"

    "Offtheboatlongtimeago.Myfamilysbeenintownforahundredyears."

    Astraystringoffirecrackerswentoffinarat-a-tatofpops.

    "CamefromaplacecalledEger,Ithink,butlikeIsaid,man,thatwasanotherlife.Whereareyourpeoplefrom,Henry?"

    Itoldhimthelieandstudiedhimashelisteheeyescluedmeiofthejaw,theaquilineawalrusmusta,ageUngerlandafewdecades,andhewouldbeadeadringerforthemaninmydreams.Thefather.Gustavsfather.IshookoffthenotionasmerelytheoddflationofmystressfulnightmaresandtheayofseeingTesssoldbeau.

    JimmyCummingscreptfrombehindandnearlyscaredthelifeoutofme.Helaughedatmysurpriseandpoiheribbonhangingaroundhisneck."Heroforaday,"heshouted,andIcouldnthelpbutbreakintrin.LittleOscar,asusual,appearedabitdumbfoundedbyalltheattention,buthesmiledatstrangerswhotousledhishairandmatronswhobenttokisshimonthecheek.Filledwithgoodcheer,thewarmeveningpassedinslowmotion,thekindofdayonerecallswhenfeelingblue.Boysan