I had just come from Mother's room early one morning and was sitting alone on the steps at the front of the building when Bill drove up in his little red station wagon. He approached me and, knowing that any change in Mother could only be for the worse, simply said. "Let's go in and see, Mother." We remained at her bedside for ten or fifteen minutes, then we went back outside and sat down together on the concrete steps. It was a clear fall day and people of the community were going placidly about their affairs; only Mother inside on the hospital bed was motionless, except for her breathing...