"Yeahsureyoubetcha!"
The boy's high sweet voice caroled through the screen door.
His mother shook her head, exasperated. "That means he didn't hear a word I said."
The father smiled. "Let him play. We don't get out here often. Besides, today's our last day."
He knew not how prophetic were his words. It was indeed their last day. The last full day of their son's life. Their last day as a family. The next afternoon it all ended in blood and tragedy.
xx
"Yeahsureyoubetcha!" Years later, Jack closes his eyes for an instant each time the familiar refrain passes his lips.