Angel Dance

photo by Gary Every

“Are you gonna read from The Hobbit tonight?” my new stepdaughter asks.

How can I say no to those big green eyes, freckle spots like a fawn’s. So I turn the pages, stumble over the words.

I remember you little brother and the times when I was babysitting you and our baby sister. How that story was your favorite, especially the part about the giant spiders of Milkwood…