“Go put on a coat,” George grumbled, waving a hand irritably. It was barely fall, but he was still very worried -- not that he’d ever admit that part out loud.

Ever since they’d moved from their parents’ home, George and his wife Evelyn had been caring for the kid. They managed to break into the old man's heart and make him crack a smile here and there, against his will. He’d come to love them as his own... in his own way.

“Don’t be dumb. You’ll catch a cold.”