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"You Little Son's a Bitches, I see yee these time I catch you and beat you asses"

A oldthe outside of the fence, his face flush

"Shit, It's Gus the Russian Jew!," Count said Shannie and Count took off

"You little bastards, I see you Duke sic"

Ignoring hisworked on the steak The oldthe outside of the fence When the dog finished, he scavenged for leftovers "Want cointo the truck Count's voice bounced through the junk yard Duke looked up Duff and drool hung from his jowls He barked and trotted after Count's voice "What's Count doing?"

"He's running screen We'll meet him at the tree"

I looked into Shannie's eyes She smiled I wanted to kiss her I closed my eyes and leaned towards her In the distance, Duke Nuke 'eet out of here," Shannie said

Shannie led me to the hole in the fence I held it back as she slipped through She returned the favor Shannie slipped her hand into mine and led me up the hill and into the tree If it wasn't for Count, ould have made out

"When I tell you to keep your mouth shut, keep it shut," Count barked as he approached the tree It's advice I struggle with If I listened, I would have saved many detentions, an occasion black eye, stitches, and public humiliation Count's advice would have made life with my mother easier She was constantly irritable When she bitched to an eated to advocate for the walls My father didn't argue When she nagged, he hid When it got really bad, he drove away One Saturday afternoon, he leftthe kitchen walls

"I knohy he's miserable You're the only one ants the baby," I said

"Who the hell asked you?"

"I did!"

"You knohat? I am sick and tired of your opinion,"All you ever do is whine, whine, whine, whine"

"You bastard! You're just like your father All you can think about is James, James, James"

"Yeah I know" I waved my hand - I picked up the habit from Count "It's all about James"