"I miss you, too," she said. "Now, tell me all about Tasha. What's she like? What was she wearing?" Mom went on and on, and we talked for hours about nothing. Mom and I could talk about nothing and it would be the funniest thing. But when I tried to tell someone about it later, it sounded ridiculous, which made it even funnier.

"Is Dad there?" I asked.

"Sure! I'll put him on JAMES!"

"Mom! That was my ear!" I laughed as I held the phone away.

"JAMES, ...