“Are the grackles good or bad for Nick?” I asked. “Both,” she said. The word left her thin lips forcefully, enunciated sharply. This time I didn’t feel the surge of helplessness. I’d dismissed her answer the first time. Now I just studied her face. “Both,” I echoed. “Does that mean I—Does that mean that Nick needs to hear them? Or should he stop listening? Which is better?”
