Commonwealth

by Ann Patchett

The entire time Albie followed Beverly around the house doing what the children referred to as “the stripper soundtrack”: Boom chicka-boom, boom-boom chicka-boom. When their mother stopped walking the soundtrack stopped. If she took a single step it was accompanied by Albie saying only “boom” in a voice that was weirdly sexual for a six-year-old.

I could not stop laughing at this.

When he tapped his glass to hers he looked her straight in the eye and said, Solidarity. She thought that was just the classiest thing in the world.