Have mercy on me, what would we say? No one was even thinking clearly enough to try to save the woman, although I assumed that all of us were positive that she was dead. Gary went inside the car and gently turned the baby’s head to make sure that it was okay. He said that the baby’s head was soft but it was fine. Louie went into Gary’s car and pulled out another beer. He jumped on the roof of

the car and told the world that Harry had done it, for once Harry had done

something that he hadn’t. Dennis told him that he was in the car, so he was just like us but Louie wouldn’t believe it.

He came down and told everyone that he was going to start walking back home. Louie didn’t care how long it took him; he just needed to get away from us. Gary and Dennis chased after him; they knocked Louie on the ground and made him stay there until he was calm again. The car door was open; the light was blinking, soon the battery would be dead. I decided to pick up the baby and hold him in my arms. I grabbed his blanket and his pacifier but I left his toy and car seat behind.

He stopped crying; I wondered then how my life might have been different if Momma had given me a little brother. Harry came over and kissed the baby on top of his head. I rocked him and put my finger in his mouth for him to suckle on. His tiny hands clutched against the blanket. I wanted to take him home with me but I knew it was impossible. I knew I might never learn his real name so I gave him a secret one: Gideon. Only the two of us would know this and I smiled at that knowledge.

I held onto him as Gary and Dennis came back over to us with Louie. Harry and Billie leaned up against the car, studying the woman’s face with her still eyes and her hands placed gently on her lap. She died looking into Gary’s headlight. They opened the door. Her purse and other contents were on the other side. Harry suggested we go through them to find someone. I don’t know how he expected us to break the news but I supposed we could.