It is discouraging how many people are shocked by honesty and how few by deceit. (Noël Coward)

“So your mother doesn’t go to church?” I asked when we were back up on the pier having snowcones and shivering.

“She does, just not to New Hope.”

“Why not?”

“She doesn’t like to see me play.”

“Oh.” Touché, I suppose.

He shrugged. “She still lives out in Topanga with my grandparents.”

“That’s nice.”

“You say that a lot.”

“You say a lot of nice things I guess.”