Laughter Always Drifts Through

Back home.

Grandpa Bates sat on the sofa watching television—a roundup of the week's major news. The female anchor looked lovely in a pencil skirt and stiletto heels.

Loren took two bottles of cola from the refrigerator, flicked the caps off with his fingers, handed one over, and flopped down beside him.

Grandpa Bates took the drink and gulped down a mouthful with all the bearing of a World War II veteran. Unfortunately, the bottle contained soda rather than whiskey. In some ways, carbon dioxide was even harsher than hard liquor; the bubbles irritated his throat and made the old veteran cough twice.

Loren could not hold back a laugh, then immediately stiffened his expression and pretended not to have seen anything.

Grandpa Bates took another sip, this time more gently and in moderation. Listening to the dense fizz of bubbles bursting inside the glass bottle, he said calmly, "When the sun went down, two owls were already waiting at the door. Was there some urgent news about the wizarding war?"

"They were our Grade Reports."

Grandpa Bates nodded. He had no interest in the results of his wizard school's midterm examinations. They did not affect further education or career choices, so they were not even as important as junior high entrance exams.

The evening news continued. As the guarantee of ratings, the female anchor remained at the center of the screen. Unless necessary, the director would not cut away, but the next few stories were important enough that the station had no choice but to switch footage.

"On July 15, Charles, heir to the British throne, and Diana divorced. Last Monday, the First Civil Division of the London High Court issued the divorce decree. High Court Judge Angel ruled that the thirty-first applicants of the day were legally divorced.