I was putting laundry away while Howard and I talked about our trip to Stoneybrook.

"Marion, I think that Al really should go with us so the graduation and the pizza party will distract him," said Howard.

"I know it will be good for him also. Maybe Al forgot to make that telephone call to Mary Anne," I agreed.

"Why don't I make a call to Al right now and see if there's anything we can do," he told me.

"I like that idea, Howard. Go for it," I told my husband.

I watched Howard walk right over to the telephone.

"Hello, Al. It's Howard. Would you mind if Marion and I come over in a few minutes?" he asked.

I didn't hear what Al was saying to Howard.

"All right, Al. We'll be right over," I heard him say.

Then Howard returned to the laundry room.

"I talked with him, Marion. He's still depressed about his cousin's murder," he told me.

"Of course he is. It will take Al time to accept this murder," I replied.

Howard had to agree with what I just said.

"Let's head over there right now," he told me.

"Just let me finish the folding and then I will be ready," I told him.

"All right. I'll be waiting in the car," Howard said.

"That's fine," I said as I watched my husband find the keys.

Before Howard was out of the house, we gave each other a kiss.

"I shouldn't be too long," I said.

"I'll be waiting," he said.

That's when he left me. He's such a romantic husband. I found a couple of coat hangers and put the shirts away in the closet and then I locked the front door behind myself.

Howard didn't turn the ignition key until I got into the passenger's seat.

"You all set?" he asked me.

"Yes," I answered.

We didn't say a word until we parked into Al's driveway. To us it looked like Al's lights weren't on but a couple of the shades were open, from what Howard and I noticed.

Howard let me ring the doorbell, which I did. We didn't hear any footsteps right away, but we were able to hear them when Al finally walked to the front door to let us in.

"Hi, Howard and Marion. Come on in," he greeted us.

"Thank you, Al," I told him.

Howard let me walk in first. What a gentleman, I told myself, but kept that one to myself.

We both thanked Al once he closed the door after us.

"Marion and I thought it's a good idea that you should still go to Stoneybrook with us, Al. It'll be a good distraction to keep your mind off the murder," he said.

"I can't, Howard. It won't do me any good by being there feeling depressed about my cousin," he told us.

I took a look at our friend. He still looked like he hadn't had enough sleep since he first heard about the murder.

"Al?" I said.

"What's that, Marion?" he asked.

"Howard and I both wondered if you made that telephone call," I told him.

"Yes, I did, actually. Mary Anne felt bad about my cousin," he said.

"At least she understands," I told him.

"Yes, she does. She's hoping I can still try to change my mind about Stoneybrook like you are," he said.

"We're all praying that you will, Al. Have you tried getting any sleep?" I asked him.

"Yes, but it didn't do much," Al said in a tired voice.

"Have you eaten anything lately?" I asked.

"Not since lunchtime," he answered and then added, "it didn't do much for me either. I give up."

"You can't give up, Al. You have the diner to think about. We've been noticing that you haven't been there since that day you received the news," Howard told him.

"I know, but I still can't focus on anything right now, Howard," said Al.

"Just do us a favor," I said.

"What?" he asked.

"Go to bed and catch up on your sleep. Howard and I will check on you again later," I said.

"All right, Marion. You always win, don't you?" he asked.

"Not always, Al. We hope you'll feel better soon. Sleep usually does the job," Howard told him.

"I know, Howard. I'll keep trying," he said.

Then Howard and I left his house as we said good – bye. We got to the driveway.

"I wish that Al would really should change his mind about the party," I said.

"Maybe, Marion. We're not giving up on it," he agreed.

I am not giving up either. We'll keep trying.