Pax

Peter cries in the car en route to his grandfather’s house, as he travels with Pax and his father. Pax tries to comfort his boy because he isn’t sure why Peter is crying. Peter yells and pleads with his father.

They stop the car, and Peter leads Pax out of the vehicle; he takes out a toy soldier—Pax’s favorite toy: “The fox came to alert, ready for the familiar game. His boy would throw the toy and he would track it down” (4). Peter throws the soldier, as he’s done many times before. Pax runs after the toy, and Peter and his father drive away. Pax does not understand: “Whatever his boy needed—protection, distraction, affection—he would have offered” (5). Peter yells Pax’s his name as his father speeds away. Pax is convinced that Peter will return and meet him at the exact same spot.

Peter’s father drops him off at his grandfather’s house and heads off to fight in the war. The grandfather helps Peter settle in and then leaves Peter to his own devices. Peter explores the room and finds a cookie tin. Inside the tin is a picture of Peter’s dad at 10 or 11 years old with one arm around a dog.