Humming on his lips on the porch, legs out, smiling, fat flashing mosquitoes thick in the air, the boy’s father appears. Son, he says solemnly, son.

The boy looks up at his father and stops humming. His father is always coming onto the porch. He tries to smile. Yes, father.

There is a long pause. I was only wondering, the father begins, then falters. There is another long pause. I was only wondering if perhaps you’d seen – he breaks off again. Then smiles.

I haven’t, the boy says.

The father nods. Well I was only wondering, you see. Only just that.

The boy nods and watches his father recede into the house. He knows he will return again soon, so resumes his humming at once.