Clifford and his father, Malcom, never spoke to each other. After giving her his last name, Malcom never again cared for his existence. He helped his mother with some money and continued to see her for a while, then abandoned her. Now Malcom is dead, and despite everything, Clifford thinks the decent thing to do is to offer his condolences to Malcom’s father and his grandfather, Geoffrey Landgraab, who amazingly outlives his son.

Also amazingly, Geoffrey received him cordially, one could even say warmly. In truth, Geoffrey seems much less harsh than Malcom. To Clifford, he didn’t come across as the monster of selfishness they all describe. Or is it that the years, grief and loneliness have tamed him?

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