CNA, but she had never gotten used to being around them. Maybe it was just as well that Mr. Enderlander was still here. She took a deep breath, tapped lightly on the door and pushed it open.

Angela slowly entered the darkened room and stopped just inside the doorway. The window curtains had been pulled shut, so the only illumination came from a single bulb over the sink in the bathroom, next to where she now stood. Some light spilled into the room from the hallway, but as the door slowly closed behind her, even that small comfort was taken away. Near the window, Angela could see Mrs. Enderlander's bed, the body covered with a sheet that was pulled up to her chin, leaving only her small head exposed.

In the dim light, Angela could not make out any details of the woman's face, which was probably just as well. In a chair next to the head of the bed, Mr. Enderlander sat with his back toward Angela. He apparently had not heard her enter the room, as he was hunched over, rocking gently back and forth and mumbling to himself. In one hand he held a small black box, which he was shaking--first toward the bed, then up in the air over his head, repeating these motions, over and over again. Something in the box rattled, softly.

She stood there for a few moments, still and quiet, not wanting to disturb the old man or whatever bizarre ritual he might be performing. When he suddenly spoke, the sound made her jump. "Good evening, Angela," he said softly, without turning around.

"Um...hi, Mr. Enderlander," she replied, rubbing the back of her neck, where for some reason the short hairs had just stood straight up. Taking another deep breath, she took one more step into the room. "I was really sorry to hear about your mother."

"Thank you, Angela," he said, still without turning to face her. "My mother thought quite highly of you."

"Really?" she asked, a slight smile touching her lips as she moved a bit farther into the room.

"Oh, yes. She looked forward to seeing you every night."

"Well. That's really nice. I was glad to be able to help her, you know."

"We both appreciated your dedication, my dear," he told her, his voice soft and soothing.