"Oh, Robby, where did you get it?"

He flashed that easy-going grin and shrugged. "Don't you worry about that," he said, rubbing his hand over the shiny fender. "So how about it, Susie?"

She hugged herself as the chilly October wind blew against her, pulling one long, blonde curl out of its bun. "Susan," she corrected, slipping the curl behind her ear.

He winked and she couldn't help the giggle that escaped, though she did her best to cover it with a cough. He pushed himself up from the car, crossing the sidewalk to lean against the railing of her porch. "All right, Susan…now, how about the pictures? It's Buster Keaton's newest."

"Well…" She looked over her shoulder then leaned closer, whispering, "Papa doesn't like you, you know." That devilish twinkle in his eyes told her that he not only knew, but seemed to get some sort of delight out of the fact. She tisked and then chuckled. "Let me ask Mama."

He watched until she disappeared into the house, then he patted himself on the back. He got Susie Hayman, the prettiest girl he'd ever seen - not to mention the one every guy in class had been chasing after since the start of senior year - to say yes.

"Excuse me."

Robby turned and his good mood vanished. "Yes, officer?" he asked innocently, dreading what he knew was coming.

"Do you own this automobile?" the policeman asked, looking the vehicle up and down. He shifted his gaze to the teen, who had his hat in his hands and a butter-wouldn't-melt smile.

"No, sir." Robby was nothing if not honest. "I borrowed it from my dad. You might know him, Colonel Edward Hogan? He runs Camp Perry."

The officer and his companion came closer. "That's interesting. You see, Colonel Hogan reported his automobile stolen. I'm afraid you'll have to come with us."

H~H

Robby tossed his driving cap into the air and caught it before letting it drop onto his face. He picked it up, turned it inside out and inspected the label. With a bored sigh, he turned it right side out and returned it to his face.

"What do you think your mother would say?"

He sat up, the hat tumbling into his lap and then to the floor. Colonel Edward Hogan - the man, the myth, the legend - stood on the right side of the cell bars in his oh-so-perfect uniform. The black belt across his chest, his ribbons straight and in perfect order. His cap tucked neatly beneath his arm and not one hair out of place, nor a speck of lint to be seen.

"Not much, I suspect, seeing as Mom's been dead for ten years."

The cutting remark found its soft target. The colonel winced and quickly averted his gaze, but not before Robby saw the tears in his eyes. He suddenly felt very guilty and wished he hadn't spoken. Why couldn't he get a better handle on his tongue?

"Well, I suppose we should be thankful that she isn't here to see her son facing theft charges."

And just like that, the guilt vanished allowing anger and disbelief free reign. "You told them I stole the car?" he asked.

"You did steal that car, Robert."

"I borrowed it."

Colonel Hogan put his hand on one of the bars. "Right after I expressly said you weren't to use it since the last time you broke curfew. Or was it for stealing the school keys and locking all the doors to the classrooms?" he said, giving a mirthless laugh. "Tell me, boy, why did you use the motor tonight. Another girl, by chance?"

Robby glared. He was so calm, so in control. He hated that. "Oh, yes sir, Colonel."

"I'll have none of your damned insolence." Colonel Hogan thundered. "You are careening closer and closer to the edge. If you keep it up, you'll fall off and there won't be damned thing that I can do for you."

"I never asked you to do anything for me."

Robby lay back down and draped his forearm across his eyes. The silence lingered for a few moments and he began to think the colonel had left.

"No, you didn't," Colonel Hogan said, his tone softening slightly. "Maybe you'll understand in a couple of decades when you have a... spirited boy of your own."

"I'm not a child, Dad."

The silence again grew long as the colonel looked at his son for a long while and for the first time since Caroline had died he really saw his son. He was a grown man - young, of course - but completely grown. It was shocking. He couldn't quite say when that had happened. When had he quit being the mischievous little devil captured in the picture on his desk? When had his tastes gone from puppies and fishing with his friends to cars and dates with pretty girls? A wry smile formed as he realized that it was probably about the same time the grays in his own mustache became more plentiful.

"You're right, Robert. I'm sorry."

Robby half-sat up and blinked a few times. Had he heard correctly… had the impeccable Colonel Edward Thomas Hogan admitted that he was wrong? His eyes darted to the sole window. Surely there must be pigs flying through the air. "Sir?"

"I said you're right. You're not a child. You'll graduate at the end of the year and then you'll have the rest of your life to worry about. Have you considered what you'll do?"

Standing, Robby scratched the back of his head. "That rather depends on whether I get charged for stealing your car."

"I'll not be the one to shove you over the edge." There was a momentary pause before the next suggestion was posed hesitantly. "There's always West Point."

"And follow in your footsteps?"

"It has been done."

Robby thought this through carefully and the most uncharitable thought struck him first. "Go to West Point or go to jail, is that it?" He asked scornfully. "No thanks! I'd rather be sent up the river."

"No West Point," he agreed, although Robby could swear he saw the slightest droop in the colonel's shoulders. "But you must have some plan."

Robby shrugged. "I just have to find a place to apply my natural talents."

"Heaven help us if you apply your natural talents in the real world. That's the surest way to end up back here as a confidence man." Following that crack, the colonel left the room to arrange for his son's release.

Robby sat back down on the cot to wait, pressing his back against the wall and stretching out his legs. Confidence man, he thought, lacing his fingers and putting his hands behind his head. A smug smile tipped the corner of his mouth up. I like the sound of that… I wonder if there's a way to do it legally?