the grizzled man stood up slowly, as if testing the bones before locking the hips in place. “boy, it’s over now. time to start again.”
“what if,” the younger man sat, legs bent close to his chest, arms resting on his knees, “what if i can’t. what if i don’t know how.”
“heh,” the grizzled man dug out paper from one shirt pocket, tobacco from another, “you know how.” he rolled the paper between callused fingers, wet the edge with deft severity. “you’ve always known how to begin things.”
the younger man closed his eyes and shuddered in the sun.