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Relief hita silent “Thank god”

“What’s he like now?” asked Sam “Can we see him?”

The doctor nodded “You can, but only for a short tiery, but he’s still very weak The heart attack was ht not be so lucky”

I slapped the doctor on the shoulder like he was an old pal “I’ll make sure the old man takes it easy”

Saested he didn’t care for hthearted attitude

“Thank you, Doctor,” he said

With that, the doctor pointed us in the right direction, and ere off Moreeted with the sight of Dad, h old bastard, like I’d never seen him before He looked like a different man—weak, sallow, helpless, even But there was still that same sharpness in his eyes, one that made you knoasn’t about to take any bullshit, not even from a heart attack

I rushed to his side and gave hi “Dad, you have no idea how happy I am to see you”

“Please,” said Dad “Who could be happy to see their own father like this”

“You’re aboveground, and that’s all I care about”

“Let’s see if you’re still singing that sa my diapers in twenty years”

Sa once I was done “How do you feel?”

“Like warshit I just had a heart attack—what do you think?”

I chuckled, glad to see that Dad hadn’t lost his edge

“Doctors said it was a mild heart attack,” I said “Should be fine”

Dad nodded “Still hurt like hell” Then he raised his finger accusingly, pointing atto behave, or are you going to make me have another one that finishes the job?”

“We’ll behave,” I said, holding up the Boy Scout fingers “Promise”

“Good Because I don’t think I have the energy to kick your asses if you get out of line” Dad shifted in his bed, gri in pain as he did