He congratulated us, and then said seriously, “It’s time,” and walked away. We didn’t know what he meant, assuming it was just one of his usual quirks. When we stepped outside a few minutes later, we saw him standing in the driveway… He was gently cleaning a slightly worn wooden cradle, carefully dusting it with a soft cloth. His face carried a quiet emotion, as if he had been waiting for this moment for a very long time.
