8:17 A.M.

           Wepileintothecar,arustingBuickthatwasalreadyoldwhenGrangaveittousafterTeddywasborn.MomandDadoffertoletmedrive,butIsayno.Dadslipsbehindthewheel.Helikestodrivenow.He’dstubbornlyrefusedtogetalicenseforyears,insistingonridinghisbikeeverywhere.Backwhenheplayedmusic,hisbanondrivingmeantthathisbandmatesweretheonesstuckbehindthewheelontours.Theyusedtorolltheireyesathim.Momhaddonemorethanthat.She’dpestered,cajoled,andsometimesyelledatDadtogetalicense,buthe’dinsistedthathepreferredpedalpower."Well,thenyoubettergettoworkonbuildingabikethatcanholdafamilyofthreeandkeepusdrywhenitrains,"she’ddemanded.TowhichDadalwayshadlaughedandsaidthathe’dgetonthat.

           ButwhenMomhadgottenpregnantwithTeddy,she’dputherfootdown.Enough,shesaid.Dadseemedtounderstandthatsomethinghadchanged.He’dstoppedarguingandhadgottenadriver’slicense.He’dalsogonebacktoschooltogethisteachingcertificate.Iguessitwasokaytobeinarresteddevelopmentwithonekid.Butwithtwo,timetogrowup.Timetostartwearingabowtie.

           Hehasoneonthismorning,alongwithafleckedsportcoatandvintagewingtips."Dressedforthesnow,Isee,"Isay.

           "I’mlikethepostoffice,"Dadreplies,scrapingthesnowoffthecarwithoneofTeddy’splasticdinosaursthatarescatteredonthelawn."Neithersleetnorrainnorahalfinchofsnowwillcompelmetodresslikealumberjack."