Big Bill and Billy were surprised to find Louie visiting with Aunt Cathy when they walked into her room at the rehab center on Thanksgiving evening. He usually drove his mother up to Dayton, where they spent the Thanksgiving holidays with Aunt Edith and his cousins. Edith and her husband had moved to Dayton 25 years ago, unable to ride out another long lay-off when the coal industry slumped again. In Dayton, they had both found work in a plant turning out radial tires.

"Edith and Bill drove down here this year," said Louie, in response to Billy's question. "They're starting to look around for a place to buy, somewhere on this end of the county. Both of 'em will retire next year, so they're getting ready to come on back home.

"Come on in and sit down. Aunt Cathy and I was just gettin' down to comparin' stories about that day she fell."