We reached the farmhouse a little after sunset, and a gray sedan was parked in our driveway. An older man sat on the porch steps with a thick folder resting on his knees. Mom stopped walking the moment she saw him. \u201cWalter Briggs,\u201d she whispered. He stood slowly and nodded. \u201cMargaret. Cooper told me what happened today. That was my son.\u201d<\/p>\n
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My mouth went dry as Walter held out the folder. \u201cI didn\u2019t come to beg for his job,\u201d he said. \u201cI came because he needs to hear something, and so do you.\u201d He opened it carefully. Inside was a yellowed transcript and a photograph of a muddy creek, with a car half submerged in brown water. Mom stared at the picture, her face turning completely white. \u201cWalter,\u201d she whispered, \u201cthat boy in the car was nine years old.\u201d Walter nodded, tears running down his cheeks. \u201cThat boy was Daniel.\u201d<\/p>\n
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