“Seven!” Jack shrieked. “It’s a world record!”
Richard grinned and held up his stone. With the same technique Jack had used, he flung his stone toward the lake. It touched the first ripple, hit the water for a second time, and then sunk like a dead weight.
“Bad luck, Dad.” The gleam in his son’s eyes didn’t bode well for the ice cream flavor he was choosing.
“Don’t tell me we’re eating pistachio and caramel again.”
“You said the winner could have whatever they want.”
With a mock sigh, Richard admitted defeat. “Fair enough. Let’s walk for a little longer before we head into town. Where are you up to in the story you’re writing?”
“The spaceship has just flown over Jupiter. Did you know Jupiter has four rings and they’re made from teeny tiny pieces of dust?”
“I knew about the rings, but not what they’re made from.”
“Katie showed me a website with all kinds of cool stuff about the planets. When my spaceship flew through Jupiter’s rings, everything jumped around and made a huge noise.”
“Did it get damaged?”
Jack grinned. “If I told you, you’d guess what happens next.”
“I’m curious. It’s a great story.” Richard stepped onto the boardwalk and winced.
“Is your leg sore?”
“A little.” Being part of a trial for a new type of prosthetic limb had changed Richard’s life, but that didn’t stop the phantom pain shooting from his right thigh to where his toes would have been.
“Did you do your exercises?”
“I finished the second set before we left home.” Richard placed his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “I’ll be okay.”
“That’s what you always say.”
“Because it’s true. Did Pastor John give you the new list of after-school programs?”
Jack nodded. “I need to choose what I want to do before the end of next week.”
“Which ones do you like the best?”
“The gardening class with Mr. Jessop sounds like fun and there’s a candy making class, too. I thought about joining the flower decorating class, but Charlie said that’s for girls.”
Richard’s eyebrows rose. He didn’t know what surprised him more; Jack’s best friend’s reaction or the image of Paris in her blue dress and red sneakers that filled his mind. “Everyone can enjoy flower decorating. Why do you want to do it?”
“I liked making a Christmas wreath last year. If I do the class, I could make something else for our house.”
“That’s a great idea.”
“So, you think it’s okay if I join the class?”
“I do. It sounds like fun.”
Jack hurried toward some stones that were stacked on top of each other. They were all flat and perfect for skipping across the water. “Who do you think left them here?”
“Someone who thought another person would like skipping stones.”
Reaching into his pocket, Jack placed two of his flattest stones onto the pile. “I don’t need these ones anymore.”
“Why are you leaving them here?”
