For the first time since I’d known her, she seemed to feel a need to justify herself: “Well, I had to. Doc really loves me, you know. And I love him. He may have looked old and tacky to you. But you don’t know the sweetness of him, the confidence he can give to birds and brats and fragile things like that. Anyone who ever gave you confidence, you owe them a lot. I’ve always remembered Doc in my prayers.
