at the jeep dealership mike worked for ten years, his name was rarely mentioned in conversation. after three or four years of mike being gone, it didn t come up too much anymore. we knew he was sick. we didn t really know if he was still in a hospital somewhere or if he had just passed away from his illness. his tools were no longer lying there unussed. ellen s son michael was using them. he had followed in mike s shoes and had become a mechanic, as well. on those rare occasions when ellen would come by the shop where mike had once worked, his old colleague dave would ask have you heard from mike and she would say no. there seemed to be no concern for mike and she would just, to no, i haven t seen mieng. it is often said the happiness and saddest of occasions bring mike s family together.