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ROGER BROCK was ale for five years, he was starting his first job as a high school gymnastics teacher in the fall His best friend, Mario, was driving

They had been on a wilderness caet a car and get his own place, what the woet laid

He had planted reforestation seedlings during his college suot paid for the work he did, while the losers who couldn't keep up got much less He had not seen his parents for three years Nor had he seen Lacey Wilson, the annoying brat next door, who had sent hih he never replied None of the ride to be over

The youngest son of three, born decades after his two brothers, Roger had been indulged but largely ignored by his now elderly parents Free frorown into a self-centered man who, at twenty-five, lived for sports, the outdoors and sex As his house cas, he hoped he'd find a beer in the fridge

ROGER'S FATHER waved but didn't get up froht back to his TV show His ed him

"Hi, Mum What's new?" he asked, not really interested and not expecting any answer other than "not rave face she said, "You haven't heard, eh? Of course, hoould you? The Wilsons were killed It's so terrible

The plane they were on caught fire or so and went down in the ocean No one lived"

"My God! Lacey is dead?" he asked, surprised at the tug he felt in his heart

"No, no Not Lacey It was Harold and Susan that went

Lacey stayed ho for the summer at some newspaper don Don't knohere"

He absorbed this news, then asked, "Is she next door?"

"I think so You should go see her"

"I will, Mum I'm starved Is there any supper?"

He ate the sandwiches and soup she offered and cracked a beer Then he unpacked his bags Then he showered Then he cracked another beer He had planned to call up friends, or look at the want ads for cars Buo see her Finally he finished his beer and headed across the driveway