All the Things We Leave Behind

There's a little sign above the front door of our family business that says 'Charles J. Davis and Son Antiques' in a fancy old-fashioned script, but no one seems to notice it and everybody calls the place The Purple Barn. It's just as well. The son, my brother Bliss, is missing, and Charlie J. and my mother are off searching, trying to find the path he took. I was left here alone and in charge. I'm not sure that promoting me to running the whole show was among Dad's best ideas ever, but my parents already have enough on their minds that they don't need anything except business-as-usual updates from me. I'll head inside soon and see how it goes. My parents left yesterday.

From All the Things We Leave Behind by Riel Nason 2016. Published by Goose Lane Editions.