Dad met Ed at the airport, where they got into the Jeep and headed for the Long Trail, My daughter and I met them at a shelter. But the minute Ed stepped out on the Trail, the heavens opened up and poured rain. It rained so hard we had to give up any hope of hiking. We went home, where Ed slept in homestyle comfort for the rest of his leave.

I had stashed, right beside my head, a few nocturnal necessities. I was dozing, when I heard the bear. Gnawing. Probably he’d discovered the tree with our breakfast and was having a healthful snack.