i want you to remember , '' she said . the thought of how desperately he must have wanted some tenderness , brought tears to my eyes . we are going to the place of my birth , '' i said . that was a standing joke that chris had used to irritate him with since chris was a small child . probably forever , if no one ended it for her . the closest one looked up , wearing a scowl , angry to be interrupted . strangely , there were somehow coming back to life , well skeleton life that is . 