Doug was standing in a jewelry store on the Strip, where he had taken the watch to be appraised before selling it. \u201cThis man says it\u2019s fake!\u201d he shouted. \u201cBrass with gold plating. Worth maybe thirty-five dollars!\u201d In the background, the appraiser calmly explained that the case had been made recently and the engraving on the back was barely a month old.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWhat engraving?\u201d I asked, though I already knew. Doug went quiet. When he spoke again, his voice had changed. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t say thirty years of service,\u201d he said. \u201cIt says something else.\u201d He read it to me slowly, word by word, like each one hurt. If you\u2019re reading this, son, you took it off a dead man\u2019s wrist. Time to look at yourself. Love, Dad.<\/p>\n
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