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much.
    â€œWho’s Willo?” Ellen asked.
    My dad gulped down a mouthful and leaned forward, chewing as he talked. “Willo was a dinosaur. And what’s remarkable about him, you may ask?”
    â€œFunny, I was going to ask that,” I said.
    â€œActually, he’s not remarkable!” My dad laughed at his joke, officially reaching Peak Dad Humor. “But here’s where it gets interesting.” My dad leaned forward, his voice lowering to a moderately loud whisper. “Back in 2000, scientists in North Carolina began to examine Willo’s remains more carefully. They peeled away all this dirt and fossilized bone in his chest, and they made what at the time they thought was a huge discovery. Can you guess what it was?”
    â€œA baby dinosaur?” my mom said.
    â€œA second brain?” Ellen said.
    â€œAmelia Earhart’s remains?” I said.
    â€œA heart?” Eph said.
    â€œEphraim for the win!”my dad yelled, high-fiving Eph while holding a fork full of pasta, splashing red sauce on his own shirt in the process.
    Eph mouthed I win at me. I stuck my tongue out at him.
    â€œIt was the first dinosaur heart anyone had ever found! I mean, they had all but given up on finding one. Can you imagine actually seeing the organ that pumped blood through those creatures? God, it’s amazing. And I haven’t even gotten to the big part yet. Are you ready? Their findings suggested it was four-chambered  ! Can you believe it?”
    We all stared at him.
    â€œThat would mean that dinosaurs were closer to us than we ever thought, that they were like mammals! A four-chambered dinosaur heart!” He grinned at us.
    â€œWow, that’s really something, Theo,” Ellen said graciously.
    Eph turned to my dad. “So is Willo’s heart going to be here?”
    â€œWell, you see, Ephraim, that’s the funny thing. After all that press and hubbub, another group of scientists took a look at Willo. And much to everyone’s chagrin, they’ve suggested it’s not a heart—it’s a deposit of sand instead,” my dad said, sitting back, his eyes bright.
    Mom straightened up, familiar with that posture and tone of voice. He was settling in for a lengthy story—one that would probably run longer than the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods combined. She held up her hand. “Honey, we haven’t even had a chance to ask the O’Connors about their last trip. Why don’t we save this for another time?”
    My dad, visibly and instantly deflated, muttered, “Sure, sure.”
    â€œMr. Marx, maybe next time I’m by the museum you can show me Willo,”Eph said, and just like that, my dad’s demeanor swung to cheery again.
    â€œThe exhibit is opening later this fall, Ephraim!”
    I was still feeling grudgy about our earlier conversation, but I had to admit: Eph was infinitely more patient with my dad than anyone else I knew.
    George strolled in, smoothing his hair back, his face flushed, and I wondered how much he’d drunk already.
    â€œSo, guys, tell us about Kenya,” my mom said, passing the bowl of salad around for seconds.
    â€œJane, it was glorious,” George said. “You should see the sunsets there, the way the whole sky is on fire. And you should see this one standing in front of them.” He put his arm around Ellen and stroked her hair. “More beauty than a man deserves.”
    Eph let out an irritated sigh, so quick I might have missed it if I didn’t know him better. “Excuse me,” he said. “I’ll be back.” He dropped his napkin on the chair and stalked out of the room.
    Ellen ducked out from under George’s arm and reached over for more wine.
    â€œThe fossils we found—prime, undamaged specimens. One of the best trips we’ve had in years. Oh, and the people were so welcoming.”
    Ellen chimed in. “You should have seen all