A yellow school bus stopped nearby.
Children climbed off laughing.
Then one little girl remained.
She hugged a notebook against her chest.
She looked around nervously.
Finally she walked toward him.
“Mr. Bennett?”
Walter nodded.
“You wrote the first letter?”
Emma smiled.
“I didn’t think anyone would answer.”
Walter knelt beside her.
“I didn’t think anyone remembered lonely old people.”
For several seconds…
Neither spoke.
Then Walter opened his arms.
Emma hugged him tightly.
People passing by probably thought they were grandfather and granddaughter.
In a way…
They were.
—
Emma introduced Walter to her mother.
Months later her father returned safely from military service.
Walter became part of their family.
Every Thanksgiving they saved him a seat.
Every Christmas he helped decorate the tree.
Every birthday he brought Emma a new book.
When Emma graduated from high school…
Walter cried louder than anyone else.
