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"I' up?"

"As well as can be expected But I'o into the bathrooet out here," he said

I crept out of the bathrooed ten years He looked tired and frail His ponytail seemed out of place

"It was my idea James didn't want to do it, really I talked hi the bathrooht, never at a loss

"Never-the-less," he continued

"Really Stan, I' for hi irl take the fall

"Yes," I told hirandfather fell in love with Shannie that Thanksgiving night After diffusing the situation, she invited hiht he would ju Diane When I told Shannie this, she said "Geezus Pete James, where's your sense of priorities Diane can wait"

"You weren't there," I wanted to tell Shannie of his second night in town - his reaction when caughtPunk?" he asked standing next to azed at her reflection in her dresser mirror as she brushed her hair Her eyes focused on the brush cleaving through her locks I barely noticed him Without a word I turned my head towards him and nodded towards Diane "Holy Shit," he whispered - the sweet smell of alcohol enveloped us We watched in silence until Diane finished and turned off her lights Without another word he patted my back and let himself out ofto have to be more sensitive to moms needs,"my mother was to be released

Like I'm not, I didn't say My father's words further cast the pall I felt that holiday season Like you are, I thought gazing out theYou lumbered around the last few months half alive, lost in your oorld while fate dealt mother cards from the bottom of the deck Maybe if you were around she wouldn't have taken her frustrations out on me You could have saved me my own trip to the hospital Sensitive, what about you, you prick? Don't tell h of relief in the hospital, I saithlow, but your feet were floating