“You’re welcome,” Charlie responded cheerfully as he took another bit of
his own sandwich. “How’s your day going?”

“Well, I finally got most of my stuff I brought back from school
unpacked, but overall I would have to say that today has been interesting. How about your day?”

“I have to agree it has been interesting, Charlie said as he picked up
his soda, took a sip and then put the glass down again turning his
attention back to Zoey. “Hey Zo, What’s up with your parents?”

“My parents?” Zoey shot Charlie a quizmacial look, “What do you mean?”

“Your Dad has been, I don’t know, withdrawn and very concerned for
your Mom. He had me call and check on her six times alone in the
hour before we left”

Charlie could tell that Zoey’s expression had now changed to one of
concern and deep thought.

“Charlie what is today’s date?”

“June 1st. Why?”

“Oh God, today is the anniversary of my brother’s death.”

“Brother! You have a brother?”

“Had Charlie, actually he died before I was born. He had cancer. He
died when he was eight years old; his name was Michael Josiah.
Today is always a hard day for my parents especially my Mom.”

Charlie reached across the table and put a hand over Zoey’s.
“I’m sorry Zo, is there anything I can do?”

“Not really Charlie, just keep doing what you have been doing.

“Hey Josh.”

“Hey Sam.” Josh said cheerfully as he walked over and sat in one of the
chairs opposite Sam’s desk. “How was the meeting?”

Sam looked up from the report he was reading,“It was the same meeting
we’ve been having for months.”

“Some things never change, huh?” Josh said as he rolled his eyes.

“You’ve got that right.”

“So what do we have for the health care bill so far?”

“Well I finished the briefing memos and Congress basically wants to
provide funding for pediatric cancer treatment and burn victims.”

At the mention of the burn victims Josh once again zoned out. “Josh?”

Josh looked back at Sam with a questioning look on his face, “burn
victims, What do they mean by that?”

Sam looked down at the memo again and began to read it aloud. “Families
shall receive money from insurance companies to help with the treatment
and recovery from burns. The funding should be used for
such things as plastic surgery, that is necessary for recovery and
hospitalization. That is just some of the things they want included
in this bill. Josh?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Josh! Get out of here. Run to the neighbors.”

“Joanie, not without you!”

“Josh, GO NOW! I’ll be right behind you, I promise, NOW GO!”

“I’m sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Lyman there was nothing more we could do for
her.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Josh, where were you? You zoned out on me there.”

“I’m sorry Sam, I... today is always hard for me. Today is my sister’s
birthday.”

“Oh, Josh I’m sorry is there anything I can do?”

“No, I have to handle it.... yeah, actually there is something, do you
want to grab a beer after work? I could use someone to talk to.”

“Sure.”

“Okay.” Josh said getting out of his chair and walking to the door.
“I’ll see ya later then. With that said he walked out of Sam’s office.

“Lizzy!” Leo said cheerfully as he gathered his kid sister into his
arms.

“Leo, how are you?” She asked as she held him at arms length. “You look
well.”

“I’m hangin in there. How about you, How are you doing?”

“Every year seems to get easier," she said with a sigh. "Especially when
Jason doesn’t come, I hate to say that but, he is young, better that he not have to deal with this yet.
It is also easier when I know I can come see you.” She said as she put
an arm around him.

“I’m always here for ya kiddo, but and I'm not gonna argue with you but,
Jason is eleven now I think he is old enough to know now.”

“I’m glad you’re not gonna argue.” With that comment they both shared a
laugh, Leo bent down to help his sister with her bags.

“Is this it?”

“That’s it.”

“Okay.” Leo took her hand in his as they walked out the door to his car.
Leo finished putting the bags in the trunk then he helped his sister to
the passenger side.

“So, where would you like to go first? My place?”

“No Leo, I think I’d rather go to the cemetery first.”

Leo looked down at his sister, he took her hand gently in his.
“You don’t have to do that right now. We can...”

“Leo.” Liz interrupted. “I need to go now. For the entire flight that
was all I could think about, especially this year.”

“Okay then that’s what we will do.” He closed the passenger side door,
walked around to the driver side and got into the car.

During the ride to Arlington, Elisabeth turned her attention back to her
brother.

“Hey Le,” she began with uncertainty in her voice.

“Yeah Liz.” Leo could read the uncertainty in her voice.

“Is that shoulder still available?”

Leo chuckled at the inside joke for this very difficult day.
“Whenever ya need it kiddo.”