Kevin and his pet maple trees. He'll give them names and shed on them lovingly.

Already, the noise and traffic of the city are fading as the town center grows farther and farther away, replaced by trees and fences. Kevin turns again and resumes walking at Glen's side, silently enjoying the scenery and the company he's walking it with. When the city itself suddenly drops away and becomes rolling fields and scattered bits of forest, the change is so abrupt the air itself almost shifts. The paved road beneath their feet becomes packed dirt. Most of the leaves are dead and gone by now, but the colors around them become brighter, more lively.

At first, there's no sight of anything at all. Finally, perhaps half a mile up the road, a house comes into view, nestled in amongst the trees. The fences around it are broken in places and the fields are overgrown, and a few of the windows will need to be replaced. However, the house itself looks sturdy enough, sitting where it sits and quite minding its own business.

"That's it," Kevin says softly.