joking.
He wasn’t.
“Did you show him the contract?” I asked.
“Of course.”
“And?”
I waited.
“He shrugged.”
Grandpa sounded completely calm.
That worried me more than shouting would have.
“What exactly did he say?”
Grandpa paused.
Then repeated it.
“You’re one old carpenter working by yourself. What are you really going to do about it?”
I felt my face heat up.
“He actually said that?”
“Pretty close.”
“Pretty close?”
“He said ‘older carpenter.’ I’m improving the quote for dramatic effect.”
“Grandpa.”
“I’m kidding. He said old.”
I could picture
