The local radio station airs live interviews from the county fair. I don’t need to hear how a fifteen-year-old boy raised his bull then won grand champion-yet another of the 4,724 reasons I want to escape Athens.

I sign for a letter while Alma is fixing lunch. I see Taylor’s name, Alma’s oldest daughter, in the return address area. I assume it’s our itinerary for the upcoming Chicago trip Alma’s oldest daughter mentioned on our last call. Alma quickly opens the cardboard ...