Summary

This story consists of a series of letters that Charley writes to his mom, Ruth, in 2016. He tells her that he and Chris received a note from their father, Del, alerting them that he is dying. Immediately, Charley wants to ignore the letter, but Chris encourages him to “consider carefully, as always, the price versus the cost of the situation” (155). From here, Charley’s writing ranges from memories with his mother, clouds and Thomas Edison. Then, he writes about his love for his mother, describing his love as “sonorous and resonant when you touched my face, deep music vibrating all through me, like a double bass” (157). He talks about his job with Chris, pitching hybrid hydraulic braking systems. He concludes pondering, “Maybe there’s another sort of parent love out there, Mom, that Chris needs, and maybe Del is ready...