Though taken off guard by the limited knowledge of his best friend's home life Rafe read on.

Dear Lord- November 26-1929

Its Thanksgiving Day, I'm over at the McCawley's because daddy was out with his friends again. They probably went to town to drink. Actually I'd rather be here anyway. But I wish daddy could celebrate with us. Well its time for dinner. Thank you for letting me be here tonight.

But let daddy have a nice Thanksgiving too.

Thank you

Danny

Rafe remembered that day, they were in the middle of Thanksgiving dinner when there was a knock at the door. Mr. McCawley looked at his wife questionly,

"Who would come by now?" he asked

She shrugged, as she got up to get the door. Looking through the screen door she said,

"Yes, oh, hello sheriff, how can we help you?"

The sheriff looked concerned, a pale and ghostly shade, his hand shook as he took the hat off of his head.

"Is a Daniel Walker here m'am?" he asked.

"Yes sir he is, would you like to come in?" she offered. "Is something wrong?"

He stepped inside.

"Well, m'am…..maybe." Rafe's father walked toward his wife. "Do you know if Danny happens to be kin to a Cole Walker?"

"Yes sir, that's his father." Mr. McCawley spoke up.

"Oh, I see." the sheriff breathed

"Whats happened sheriff?" asked Mrs. McCawley cautiously.

"Well, Cole Walker committed suicide tonight." The sheriff cleared his throat. "At his residence. It was believed he was looking for his son."

"Oh God." Mrs. McCawley claimed raising a hand to her mouth.

"I'm here to inform him and ask him a few questions." The sheriff said.

Mr. McCawley walked into the living room where Rafe and Danny had retreated to play while his parents were out of the room.

"Uh…Danny, could you come here a minute." Mr. McCawley asked.

Rafe and Danny got up and walked toward him.

"No, son, not you, we just need to talk to Danny for a minute."

As Rafe started for the living room again, Rafe's mother went after him and sat on the couch with him. Danny was led into the hall to the sheriff. The sheriff let out a loud sigh.

"Hi, Danny."

"Hello sheriff"

"Danny, the sheriff would just like to ask you a few questions and talk to you for a few minutes okay?"

"Sure Mr. McCawley." Danny replied, confused.

The sheriff sat with Danny on the stairs with Mr. McCawley looking on arms crossed, but hands moving constantly and nervously.

"Momma?" asked Rafe

"What honey?"

"What do they wanna talk to Danny for?"

She tried to explain to her son, the events that had taken place that evening.

She heard the screen door creak open. She got up, and quickly walked toward the door.

"Now sheriff, we'll look after him." Offered Mr. McCawley.

Danny stayed there from there on in.

Dear Lord- November 27-1929

Daddy's dead……………The sheriff said I could go get my things from the house tomorrow, they have to get some things out. I know what their doing, their taking out Daddy's body. Well……I did it. Daddy said I killed Momma and now I killed Daddy. The sheriff said he probably came home lookin' for me, and that its not my fault. But it is, if I would have been home, daddy would have hurt me and not himself. I don't know, I guess I'll stay with Rafe now……I just don't know.

Danny

Oh God Danny that wasn't your fault. How could he ever think tha-. Rafe vaguely remembered any other particular details about that night except Danny didn't eat, and his mother whispering to his father,

"That man probably would have killed Danny if he hadn't been here."

That night Danny went from his best friend to his brother.