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“You said you wanted to talk to ”

I looked up at Cliff It tookabout I had been interested in talking to him Specifically, about the possibility of a job transfer, preferably to soet

“No,” I said “I was mistaken”

Cliff eyed ly and nodded his head

“Why do I feel like I’ve been played?” I asked

Cliff ed his shoulders “No idea, my boy,” he said sian to walk past hiht better of it and stopped next to him

“I know this ainst the rules but life’s too damn short,” I whispered and then I wrappedCliff

The poorseconds I was sure he was going to push me away but to my surprise, his arms went around me and he patted me on the back

“Thank you for everything you’ve done for me,” I whispered

“You did it yourself, my boy Patricia would be so proud of you”

“I miss her so much,” I admitted

“Me too, son”

I pulled back and said, “You know, she never told me how you two knew each other”

“Didn’t you have your ears open just now, son?” Cliff asked “I just told you hoe knew each other”

I shookod,” I said as it came to me “She was Cassie’s sister, wasn’t she?”

“That she was,” Cliff acknowledged “Patricia was how I met Cassie Patricia and I were in the same class One of our teachers convinced Patricia to tutor me… offered her extra credit After Cassie passed, Patricia and I kept in touch I never wanted any of this craziness to touch Patty, so no one knew about her or Cassie”