Lies of Omission
by C. Dan Castro Caleb Snowe stared into his mom’s room, its single bed covered with smooth sheets long unused. For the umpteenth time—Grandad once said no number was greater than “umpteen”—Caleb thought, Where could Mom be? But no one would tell him. Not Grandad, not Caleb’s teachers, not his counselor. No one. So Caleb had taken unusual steps to find out. “I miss Mom.” “I know, Sport,” Granddad said, bending down to pat Melon’s head. The German Shepherd puppy wagged its tail. “A few days more. Then she’ll be back, healthy and… and cured.” Caleb had heard this before. Downstairs, the doorbell rang. Granddad shuffled away, and Caleb led Melon into his mom’s room. At the foot of the abandoned bed sat an open dog crate. Melon padded over, licked Caleb’s hands, then flumped onto the cage’s dog bed. Caleb gave Melon a good rubbing, smiling as Melon happily kicked one leg in answer. “Caleb,” Granddad said from behind as Caleb closed the dog crate. “I’m not angry, but you should let m...
