“Well, choose carefully what you listen to, and what you tune out. In fact, tune out most of what flies from Max’s mouth,” Anna said as she threw the car into drive. They lurched forward as Max and Tim and the businesses peppered about the downtown grew smaller in the car’s side view mirror.

“So, I shouldn’t worry that Ahuizotl is going to snatch my teeth and fingernails,” Graham said with an attempted chuckle.

Instead of a chuckle, though, it was more like an awkward, noisy exhale, like air escaping too quickly from a balloon. It felt good to be laughing it off, or at least trying to laugh it off, and he felt his fear soften a little. Being with someone levelheaded like Aunt Anna would help, would remind him that stories such as the ones about Ahuizotl are old and silly.

“Ah, that,” Anna said with a long nod of her head. “No, actually, we should worry about that,” she added as her expression grew more serious.