"I'm sorry, but I have no intention of talking to you, but I need your brother. That's why tell me where to find him and how to reach him. I know he went to Alaska then, but I haven't heard anything more from him. So please just tell me where he is and give me his phone number." I said it all quickly so he wouldn't interrupt me.
"My brother," he began, "my brother died in Alaska a month ago. And now I have to solve the problems I have." I was taken aback by the intensity of his speech. His pain and sadness were all reflected in that one sentence. I didn't know. I simply didn't know. And how would I know when I wasn't even in touch with my old friends. Everyone left their hometown and no one hung out with each other.