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them understand that knowledge was something they would have to work to attain.
    I arranged; I explained; I pushed; I prodded. When all else failed, I played the role of cheerleader. I wouldn’t have traded my job for anything.
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    Two weeks passed without another word from Frank. To tell the truth, I’d pretty much forgotten about his latest venture. My brother’s not above bailing out when times get tough. For all I knew, he might have gone back to reading the want ads.
    Between the new job, taking care of Davey, and a dog show for Faith coming up on the weekend, there was plenty to keep me busy. I had twenty students from a variety of grades in the tutoring program, so my schedule was full. Just to keep things interesting, it also varied from day to day.
    On Wednesdays I got out of school around the same time Davey did, so I swung by Hunting Ridge on my way home and picked him up. When I reached the elementary school, the buses were loading. Davey was waiting for me at the curb near the front door. His best friend, Joey Brickman, was with him.
    The two of them were swinging their backpacks and shoving each other playfully. Any minute they were bound to fall off the curb and into traffic. I’m a mother, so that’s the way my mind works.
    I slid the Volvo into an empty spot and tooted the horn lightly. Davey looked up and waved when he saw me. Both boys shouldered their packs and scrambled in my direction. Joey was pug nosed, freckle faced, and built like a linebacker-to-be. When he threw himself into the backseat, the car shuddered from the impact.
    Davey was smaller and more slightly built, but what he lacked in heft, he made up for in speed. He moved with his father’s grace, and also had the same heavily lashed, chocolate brown eyes. Today they wore a serious expression as he climbed into the car and shut the door.
    â€œSeat belts,” I said, although the boys hardly needed a reminder. They were already reaching around to get the straps in place before I’d even put the car in gear. “Everything okay? You two have a good day at school?”
    â€œIt was awesome!” cried Joey. “I lost a tooth. Wanna see?”
    I looked in the rearview mirror, thinking he’d show me the tooth. Instead Joey was angling his head upward, mouth agape, pudgy finger pointing at an empty space.
    â€œPretty impressive. Aren’t you a little young to be losing teeth?”
    â€œThat’s what the teacher said,” Joey said proudly. “I’m the first in the whole class.”
    I glanced back at Davey, who had yet to say a word. “How about you, champ? How was your day?”
    â€œFine.”
    â€œJust fine? That’s all?”
    â€œIt isn’t fair.” Davey pushed out his lower lip in a pout. “I wiggled all my teeth and none of them are even loose. I want the tooth fairy to come to our house, too.”
    â€œIt’s so cool!” said Joey. “She’s going to take my tooth and leave me money instead.”
    Davey crossed his arms over his chest and stared out the car window.
    â€œDon’t worry,” I said. “Your turn will come.”
    â€œBut I want my turn now.”
    That’s my boy. He has many wonderful attributes, but patience isn’t one of them.
    I switched on my blinker and turned up our road. Our house is a small, snug Cape; one of many that all look pretty much the same in a neighborhood that was built in the fifties. The homes have small yards, mature plantings, and streets that are quiet enough for children to ride their bikes. Considering the price of real estate in Fairfield County, I could have done a lot worse.
    Joey’s family lives at the end of the street. His father’s a lawyer in Greenwich and his mother stays home with his two-year-old sister, Carly. Alice Brickman and I have been friends since the boys were small.
    I pulled into the driveway, and Davey and Joey spilled out of the car. Faith,