Adding to the accounts

When I went to Johnston, R.I., to interview Joanne O'Neill and Dave Kane, her father, Joe Romanelli, was leaving their house and getting into his car. I asked him his thoughts about his grandson and the number 41. ''I gotta tell you," he said. ''At Lincoln Park, I play the poker machine. Last night the number 41 came up, I had 41 credits left. I said, 'OK, Nicholas, let's do it!' I pressed the button, and I got a royal high straight flush. I won a thousand bucks. I believe in this stuff, and it's comforting."

About 90 minutes into the interview with Nick's parents, they led me to a den and played the videotape of Nick's play, ''They Walk Among Us." When it ended, the digital clock read 4:11. A while later, a Globe photographer arrived, and I left. Starting up my car, I glanced at the clock. It was 4:41.

BELLA ENGLISH