At my wife’s birthday party, my son suddenly pointed at her boss and shouted, “Daddy, that’s the man with the caterpillars.”

that’s the man with the caterpillars.”

“What did he say?” Lisa asked, leaning forward.

“Caterpillars,” my father repeated, amused. “Kids, huh?”

I knelt down so I was eye level with Noah.

The room felt smaller suddenly, the music too loud, the laughter too thin.

“Buddy,” I said gently, “what do you mean? What caterpillars?”

Noah tilted his head and looked continue reading …