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"Ca Same with the cabin up north What’snow, and Shelby was pouring fresh-squeezed lecooler, but it was still hot enough for aBobby and Shelby were both wearing shorts and T-shirts Bobby’s swore allegiance to the St Paul Saints o of Buddy Guy’s Legends, a blues club in Chicago Bobby had taken her there in the spring while I babysat their two daughters

"Where are the kids?" I asked

As if on cue, Victoria and Katie appeared at a living roomthat opened onto the porch just behind their h the screen

"How’re ?" they asked in unison

"Not this trip"

They both made disappointed noises, and I said, "Sorry"

"Is it because Mom threatened your life last time?" asked Victoria

"You have to admit ten pounds of Tootsie Rolls is kind of excessive"

"It isn’t," said Katie

"Moood behavior like ere prisoners in a Russian gulag," Victoria said

"A gulag?"

"You know Like where they kept Solzhenitsyn"

"How old are you again?"

"She’s no fun," Katie insisted

"Who?"

"Mom Gol, McKenzie"

"Your mother was a lot of fun when I firstthen," Victoria said "Now she’s really old"

"That’s it," Shelby announced "The spankings will now commence"

"Oh puhleez, mother," Victoria said

Shelby’s eyes bore down hard on her daughter

Victoria said, "I think I’ll go upstairs and read"

"Good idea," Shelby said

"Good night, all"

Victoria left theKatie followed her deep into the house

Shelby sighed significantly

"Victoria’s aler," she said

"Don’t you just love that?" Bobby said

"Have you ever spanked your children?" I asked

"The threat of violence is usually sufficient, and when it’s not, Bobby pulls his gun"

Bobby held up his hand, three fingers curled into his paler extended, his thuue

"I can see how that ht keep order"