Lawyers.
Advisers.
But illness had produced a problem that couldn’t be negotiated away.
He sat alone in booth seven.
Mason was there.
Richard apparently recognized him as the boy associated with Same Table but didn’t know he was the founder.
They talked for forty minutes.
Richard told him he was terrified his adult children would begin treating him as someone already dying.
Mason asked:
“Are you dying today?”
Richard said no.
“Then tell them today’s information.”
That sentence changed something.
Richard went home and told his family the truth.
The video cut to a later recording.
Richard looked thinner.
But peaceful.
“My family and I had eighteen good months after that conversation.”
He smiled into the camera.
“Not easy months. Good months.”
I looked at Mason.
“Did he die?”
“Last year.”
My chest tightened.
“I’m sorry.”
Mason nodded.
“He was nice.”
The video continued.
Richard explained he had learned more about Same Table.
