By Wednesday, the weather had calmed enough for the older brothers to head up the mountain to get some work in. It was still wet, but if they let that stop them, they'd never get anything done. The wind had died down, though, and the cloud cover was a lighter shade of grey. Jeremy was glad. Every time it was recess, he'd look around to see if his brothers were anywhere before deciding what he'd do. He hadn't realized how used to not having his brothers around he had become, while he was in town. He could finally stop to visit Ms. Amelia, who winked and said she was glad he was back to give her a rest, because Sarah was keeping her busy most days. Ms. Sarah had moved into Ms. Amelia's house and rented hers out. Ms. Sarah didn't get out of bed much, and Ms. Amelia took care of her. She didn't think Sarah would see the new year in, though. "Is it sad?" Jeremy asked, nibbling on a cookie. "Oh, I don't know," the old woman said. "When you can't get around, and when you're weak as a baby all the time, it's probably time for some eternal rest. But I'll miss her, of course. We've been friends and neighbors for longer than you've been alive, young man." That made Jeremy laugh quietly. He knew that. From what he understood, Ms. Amelia had been Mama's Mrs. Mack – an all-grown-up lady when Mama had just been a mostly-grown-up Mama when they came here. And he hadn't even been started yet. Ms. Amelia said he was the first baby borned there. Jeremy sipped his hot tea and wondered about that. He was pretty sure some of the Indians who had been living there forever had been born there. Not all of them, because most of the tribes were – he forgot the word, but they moved around a lot. He'd have to ask Jason, because he didn't think he could argue with Ms. Amelia. He'd probably get in trouble if he tried. Besides, he didn't exactly know how to ask or argue or whatever you wanted to call it. He finished his cookies and his tea, and stood up. "I b-better go home. I got something to write for school. W-would you l-like me to c-carry the tray in f-for you?" Ms. Amelia smiled. "No, dear boy. I'd like to sit here and finish the tea. But thank you for offering. You are going to be a fine young man. Your mother would be proud. Come here." Jeremy approached her, and she hugged him briefly, and kissed his cheek. "Very proud indeed. Good night, young man." "G'night" he said, and slowly walked away.

/ When Jason and Josh returned home (well after dark) the lamps were lit, the coffee was fresh, and Jeremy was sitting on Jason's bed playing his guitar. His schoolbooks were stacked neatly on the table stand by the door, ready to go in the morning. Jeremy had a writing tablet on the bed beside him and a pencil behind his ear. The brothers greeted one another, and settled themselves around the room. Jeremy kept plucking away, making sounds, but not really music. Jason and Joshua were talking about what they had yet to do, and Josh mentioned the sky was clearing, so they might have good weather to finish up the work before the rains came back."It'll be cold in the morning," Jason said, blowing on his coffee. Both brothers agreed. Jason seated himself in the easy chair and stretched out his legs, holding his coffee in both hands. Josh helped himself to some chunks of bread from the pan sitting on the back of the stove. Jeremy kept plonking. Josh grimaced with every note, but said nothing. "J-jason?" "Hmm?" "Do you th-think it's cold in the g-grave?" Josh choked. Jason set down his coffee and rubbed his hands together. "That's something I've never thought about. Why?" Jeremy shrugged. "I remembered a couple song lines from Mama. 'C-cold as the g-grave, cold is the sea, there my love is waiting for me.' " "If the grave is the sea, I suppose it would be cold if the sea is cold." Jeremy nodded. "Yeah, but the g-ground wouldn't be c-cold, if it was all around you. Would it?" "Like I said, I've never thought about it." "You should know," Josh said, "with all the dens you used to wiggle your way into and then cry when you couldn't get out." "I wasn't never – it wasn't ever cold in there. It was mostly d-dark." "No kidding." Jeremy laughed at that. "Now, what's going on with that noise you're making. It ain't music, that's for sure." "I'm trying to make it sound mysterious instead of mushy." "Oh. Hmm." Josh had to think about that for a minute. When he went to get his instrument, Jason picked up the book he was reading and let them do their thing. Music made a pleasant backdrop for a good read. That, and his brothers getting along. (Music was good for that sometimes, and sometimes not. Blessedly, tonight was the former.)

``` The morning was as pleasant, if more hectic, than the evening had been. Better, in fact, because the sunshine was bright and the air – wasn't as cold as it could have been. They just might finish getting the finishing up done! Once outside, the older brothers were heading one way, Jeremy the other. They all said bye, and Jeremy took a couple hesitant steps before he stopped. "Something wrong?" Jason asked. Jeremy shook his head, opened his mouth to speak, then shut it again with another shake of his head. "Jeremy." "I w-was j-just wondering … someth-thing. It c-can wait." "Are you sure?" "Uh-huh." He took a few more steps, and when he turned back and saw his brothers hadn't moved he waved at them and started running toward the school. Josh watched Jason watching Jeremy. When they finally started walking again, Josh said, "You're going to spend all day wondering, too, aren't you?" Jason laughed at that, because it was true.