"Jason's father, David Margulis. Jason is theheir."I didn't remember how many zeroes were involved but recalled that it wasenough money to wipe out th... National Debt, or even buy a one-roomapartment in Tokyo."The family lives here," she said, "and his father was flying out to thecompany mines in the West. Montana, I think. There are mines in fivewestern states. I hardly knew Jason's father. Except for the wedding Idon't think I met him three times. He wasn't close to anyone, not evenJason. His. Millie, at sixty-nine looked as charming as always, and her smile melted away the years. She was as desirable as she was the first time I met her, when she made Beth Ann and me fried chicken at their home overlooking Table Rock Lake.Jim showed his seventy-two years by his slow walk and deliberate movements. I hated seeing my loved ones age, but that is how the universe works, except for in my case...Sammy charged the car and demanded the newcomers give him their full attention, which pleased. The border guard in charge of cars looked like he was in his late twenties. He was slim with short wavy brown hair.He had two people working with him. A woman had a mirror on wheels, to look under cars, and a black guard had a beagle with him; used for sniffing out contraband.All three were armed, and seemed to take their jobs very seriously. They took three to five minutes examining each car. Each passenger is asked to leave their cars. The dog then sniffed each person, and the car's interior.. "I'm going to go play on the playground. You are more than welcome to join me." I smiled, and started to walk confidently away. I got only a few yards away when I heard him yell, "Wait!" I looked back and saw him reaching into his truck and pulling out a pack of cigarettes. Then he jogged a little to catch up with me. We walked to the playground not really saying anything. We sat in the swings and he opened his cigarette pack which actually had two joints and a lighter in it. He took one out.