Everyone felt a bit wistful, and the conversation soon turned to other topics.
As the night grew late and quiet, and the tavern's patrons had all dispersed, Old Man Yates sat alone at the counter. He saw Seth Yates still standing in a corner and turned to look at him. "Not heading home?"
"Isn't your sister waiting for you at home?"
Seth Yates pressed his lips into a thin line and glanced at the time. "I'll leave in another ten minutes."
In ten minutes, it would be on the hour.
He had a bit of an obsessive streak.
Old Man Yates smiled.
"You keep watch over me every day. Didn't I tell you before that I wouldn't do it?"
Seth Yates looked up at him. "You haven't really tried to stop me these past few days."
'If Old Man Yates really didn't want me hanging around, he wouldn't let me come here and stay this late every day.'
Old Man Yates clicked his tongue. "A kid like you staying up so late every night... you really won't grow any taller."
