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Having Abe Johansson hang around Roy's place was so he was not accustomed to At least three days a week, Abe would randoave Abe the responsibility of repairing the barn He had Abe replace worn out boards and enlarge the corral Abe was a hard working boy and Roy was surprised by Abe's sta ladders to the roof to stand on, Roy and Abe replaced the old loose boards and applied new corrugated metal panels The as difficult, but often Abe would be the one pushing Roy to exhausting limits The new roof provided a dry, shady environ filly

Roy was pleased with the coe difference, the filly could get thethe perimeter of the corral Their playfulness also entertained Roysatisfied with his confir a faave up on the idea A family just wasn't in the cards, Roy would tell hi Abe as a helper, allowed Roy to feel like a father figure Abe seemed happy about it too Whenever Roy spent the afternoon with Sara and her sons, he felt like they were the closest thing to having a fa with the home where it was quiet, at the saht he was too old for Sara

"Roy, can we do so to the left like that?" Abe asked

Roy stared at the barn, re when he and his father built it nearly thirty years ago "I don't think so Abe It's been like that since I can rereen timbers for the fra to one side I believe it's er"

Abe looked up to Roy He was proud to have another man around to help his maw and brother Billy Abe often missed his paw and knew Roy would never replace him; however, Roy was a terrific substitute Abe reached out and stuck his hand inside Roy's Abe's behavior shocked Roy and he was not prepared for the boy's gesture of fa to say to Abe, but his brain went blank Roy felt aard and stuh his words