The dining room was dark.
Chairs were stacked upside down on tables.
Dust floated through narrow beams of sunlight.
Then the lights turned on.
“Surprise!”
Caleb screamed.
I screamed.
Jenna nearly dropped her purse.
Walter stood near the old counter.
Beside him were Officer Reeves, Principal Dawson, Rachel, Linda, several teachers, neighbors, and at least twenty children.
“You are in so much trouble,” I told Walter.
He laughed.
“I’ve heard that before.”
Caleb punched him lightly in the arm.
“I thought you died!”
Walter stopped laughing.
“Oh.”
He crouched.
“I’m very sorry about that.”
“You should be.”
“Yes, sir.”
Then Walter pointed toward the center of the restaurant.
A large red lunchbox sat on a table.
“The key.”
Caleb approached cautiously.
Inside was no cash.
There were papers.
A deed.
Architectural drawings.
Photographs.
Caleb frowned.
“What is this?”
Walter smiled.
“The restaurant.”
“What about it?”
“I’m giving it away.”
