So she cares to be silly with me. All right, I knew that. Just wish she'd do it in other ways. "We were never much for nicknames, my family. Too many J's, with twelve of us kids. And most of them got sensible names." For all my mother had to dig through the Bible for some of them.

Thought I asked her to call me by my name, but maybe she wants me to pick something else. Good God. Close my eyes and try to think. "Been called Jamie before and didn't hate it," I finally offer. Maybe she'll just leave it lie.

Can't stay stuck thinking about things I've been called and didn't like, not with her giggling at me. So that's what it is. Still not sure I'm up for any this morning, but I can joke about it, at least. "You want to remind me?"