For those two men, it said everything.
Kaylee’s volleyball season ended in November after a difficult loss in the sectional semifinals.
She cried for a couple of days, then began looking forward to graduation.
By April, she was preparing her graduation announcements.
One evening, she sat at the kitchen table with her laptop while Travis worked on seed delivery schedules.
I was making tater tot hotdish again.
Without saying anything, Kaylee turned her laptop so we could both see the screen.
It was the graduation announcement form.
Under the section labeled Parents, she had entered three names.
Jodi Brandt.
Travis Brandt.
Duane Ostrem.
Travis stared at the screen.
Then he removed his reading glasses.
For several seconds, he didn’t speak.
Finally, he reached forward and lightly touched the edge of the laptop.
“You spelled Ostrem correctly,” he said, his voice rough. “Your grandpa will be happy about that.”
