The Insider

John had to sit through every cute little story and fascinating fact about his childhood. His mother had finally found someone to listen to her rattle off one precious memory after another about her baby boy. She constantly patted him on the thigh and winked. This was her secret approval signal telling John that she liked his new girlfriend.

Of course Tammy was eating it up. She had told John that she had very little family left. He could tell that she was really listening to the stories and wanted to know more and was enjoying his embarrassment.

"You do know about Joyce?"

"Mom. I think that's enough," John said. "She doesn't care about that."

"Sure I do," Tammy spoke up with a bright smile. "Tell me more, Mrs. Farris."

"Don't be silly, John," his mother laughed. "There's not much to tell."

"I think I told her everything, anyway," John said as he got up and opened the refrigerator door. He reached for a can of soda. At the pop of the top he heard his mother start the same way she always did.

The hallway clock chimed. It was a bird clock that chirped every hour to the sound of a different species of bird. It was eleven o'clock. John could not picture what kind of bird was up for the task this hour.