It was New Year's Day at Pete's house. His grandfather, a man ninety-four years of age was there and so were many of the old gentleman's sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters, and even great-grandsons and great-granddaughters. It was quite a crowd, to be sure.

The bowl games were on television. Children were playing with their Christmas toys. The ladies were trying to rest from the meal preparation and housecleaning, …