He eyed her from his hospital bed, searching for signs that the flattery landed.

He saw her unmoved.

He backed out the flattery to give someone else credit and put her in her place.

Unresponsive.

He feigned sleep as he planned his next attack.

How did the hold he had over her as a child atrophy?

The honor to edit his 900-page work of genius would be his magnanimous gift.

A trophy to bring glory to her ordinary life.

Kids these days have no respect or good sense. It’s a modern-day atrocity.