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Jesse wondered briefly ritten across his face What details of his past were visible?

He and Eva were the sa everyone’s troubles and responsibilities like stones around their necks When everyone else had deserted they had both stayed—in that house, in this town—long after the time they should have left

Just do what you are supposed to do, he told himself You’re in this little shithole for a reason

He pulled his cell phone out of the faded green duffel and dialed Chris’s number

“Inglewood Construction,” Chris answered after two rings and Jesse’s dark mood lifted at the sound of his friend’s voice

“Hey, Chris It’s Jesse”

“Jesse, when the hell are you going to get down here? I am up to my pits in work” A saw buzzed to life on Chris’s side of the line “Watch the damn floors!” Chris yelled and Jesse could practically smell the sawdust; he could almost taste it “Seriously, man,” Chris said “I need you here, like, yesterday”

“Yeah, I’s for a few days”

“Well, the sooner you get here the faster we can drink so some money”

“Sounds good,” Jesse said It sounded like heaven, like the furthest possible thing froood”

“Keepthe basement floor and I swear if so pool out of it”

“See ya, Chris” Jesse hung up and threw the phone back in his duffel

Wishing was for fools, so he learned the day his sister walked away fro his own precious time He ho he was and he had to take care of his responsibilities

He gave Wain a pat on the snout

“See what you’re getting me into?”