A Surface Runoff

Paul's father, Mr. Richardson drove past the spot on the riverbank where his son was fishing with Artie Glenolden and others that included Stanley McCormick. He went in the store near there and saw Stanley. He greeted him. "You're the guy they call Stretch?""And you're Mr. Richardson, Paul's father?""Your life must stink too. I wonder about you coming out the mountain as you claimed. Does your life suck as much as mine?""Wow. You're sure a negative fellow.""My wife, kids and the neighbor's dog all hate me.""Who would figure that?""My wife kept pushing me for us to move away from here. Then she changed her mind about it once I agreed with her for us to do it." * * *"What? That man that they found in the river has been called a self-defense case. Some widow killed him.""The sheriff's deputy had some old warrants on him for crimes committed from several years ago. Mr. McCormick must have seen him coming and he was gone when I show the deputy to his room.""Oh no I suppose I need to pay his bill?""He didn't check out. Still he left enough money behind to pay for the room and a tip.""That's Stretch for you.""Who?""Oh, we call him that.""Sure.""I suspect that he didn't say anything about where he was going?""No, it seems that he just ran off. Wherever he when it was on foot.""I guess that is that. Thank you. I'll leave here now and let you work on this room in peace," and then she drove back toward home."Matte stopped at the Glenolden farm before returning to her home. She saw Artie's grandfather as she pulled in the driveway. She got out of her car and he greeted her. She told him what she felt she could say. She left out her sleepovers with him and such things. Then she asked him about the boys. "Has Artie and Paul returned home?""The boys are staying with Paul's relatives in the mountains all summer.""So, you found them?""Yes. They will be back in time to attend high school this fall.""Yes, they will be in high school now."