It was just Joshua and his dad, then. Joshua played with Tandar, who lived on the same street, in one of the little houses that were all the same. Most of the time Molly Garrett came with Tandar.
The children always liked to play at Joshua's house, because they would be left alone there. Tandar's mother was always at his house, and she didn't like to let the kids do anything very much, especially nothing that made any noise, and there wasn't anything to do at his house. When Tandar went to Molly Garrett's house her mom would be sure to make them help her with things the whole time they were there, and anyway that would mean no Joshua. So Molly Garrett always walked home with Tandar after school, and as soon as they could they'd run to Joshua's house and knock on the back door.
Joshua's dad made faces all the time. He rolled his eyes when he saw two kids on his doorstep, pushed the door open groaning "Jaaaaaaaaassh" and shaking his head. The children giggled, and that made him make more faces, and then Joshua would come tumbling down the stairs, breathless. They would play, always outside if they were allowed, which was usually. Joshua's dad was always good to them about that.
This is all when Tandar and Molly Garrett were in third grade; Joshua was in second grade, because he had to be in first grade twice. They were all eight years old. Later Joshua's dad died. He was nice.