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Trey smiles patiently at me “Maybe just try to let him be the one to come to you”

“Wait for him to come to me? Shoot, I’ll be waitin’ forever for that He’s as stubborn as a …” I sigh frustratedly “… as stubborn as somethin’ that’s really stubborn”

“I know it’s hard,” Trey assuresEven with a close friend”

“We’re closer than close We’re like brothers”

“Well, even more so You … just need to let it happen in its own tiht?”

“Nah” I look down at ain “I don’t want to just sit around waitin’ I don’t wait I do things”

“And sometimes you do too much, as is evidenced by the fact that you’re here in this office at all,” Trey points out suys just doin’ what they ithout a care about their own bodily injuries, it’s me, seein’ as I’m married to the stubbornest of all”

I suy, I know that ht now; I need a solution to Bobby, and “waiting” is sionna do

“So just give him some time,” Trey finishes “The ball is, more or less, in Bobby’s court”

“Bobby hates basketball” I huff and cross my arms, unsatisfied with his advice

“It’s a tennis reference, actually”

“He hates tennis, too”

Trey rises froave you rowing rain of salt, alright?” He shrugs “Or pepper, if you hate salt Or sugar Whatever grain you want” He smiles, then reaches to help me off the table “You ready for your X-Ray?”

I stare at hter of h the closed door Their merriment makes the frustration in me mount further for so that’s crawling overI can’t properly scratch at nowithout even a shape

But it sure has a name

Bobby fuckin’ Parker

11

BOBBY

I hold open one door, Vince holds open the other

“I hope you enjoyed your show Thanks for co”

That’s what I say to each custo custos in which I’ve dutifully held the door open before cleaning

Which is si I say when I stand at the front podium to tear the customers’ tickets:

“Thanks for co I hope you enjoy your show”