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John had to sit through every cute little story and fascinating fact about his childhood His mother had finally found someone to listen to her rattle off one precious memory after another about her baby boy She constantly patted hinal telling John that she liked his new girlfriend

Of course Ta it up She had told John that she had very little fa to the stories and wanted to knowhis embarrassment

"You do know about Joyce?"

"Moh," John said "She doesn't care about that"

"Sure I do," Taht smile "Tell me hed "There's not , anyway," John said as he got up and opened the refrigerator door He reached for a can of soda At the pop of the top he heard his mother start the same way she always did

The hallway clock chimed It was a bird clock that chirped every hour to the sound of a different species of bird It was eleven o'clock John could not picture what kind of bird was up for the task this hour

"She never wanted him to be a police officer," his mother stated She tried to keep her voice down, but that was impossible

Tammy looked over to John and smiled playfully In all honesty the attention was nice for a change He just hated to have Tammy hear about his past relationship from his mother

"I don't even think she enjoyed his music that ed his shoulders

"I went to see his band play the other night," Tammy said proudly

"Really? I want to do that I don't even knohere he's playing these days I should be ashamed of myself"

"At the Sundowner," Tammy told her

"You remember Brad?"

His mother nodded "Oh, yes, Brad"

"He owns it now"

"Really?"

"Don't you tell yourto look serious but failing A smile curled up in the corners of her mouth

"You kno men are," his mother broke in

"Sure do"

"Mom, don't even worry about where I play Ta star here in your kitchen"