Because he came around only once in a while, my father explained.

Sometimes my father would explain how you should never massage to the heart.

"We thought he'd stay another three years," his father explained.

At least, that was the way her father had explained it.

My father, I think, explained some of this to you.

Her father had explained that if he were called, money would be tight.

Her father hadn't really explained the leaves growing on his head.

The father explained that, other than their parents, these girls had never seen another human being.

The first rule, their father explained, was to keep the ball off the floor.

Jack watched with concern as his father explained not just the attack, but also the reason for it.