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“Yup”

“Where’s your mom?”

“In bed She has a mi-drain”

“A raine?”

“Yeah one of those”

“Is she asleep?” He shakes his head “All right I’onna let her know I’m here Grab your stuff” I pat his head and muss up his hair

I walk in the house and go down the hallway passing by the living rooo sits on the couch Marcie’s bedrooainst the dark wood It’s been two months since Denny was killed in a freak accident at work I know there is no set tiet her shit together and be there for him

“Hey, it’sGus to dinner you wanna come with us?”

“I’ry,” she calls out in a low meek tone

I twist the knob, pushing the door open The bedroom is a ed up to theet out of the house Get up and put some clean clothes on When was the last time you showered?” I jerk her covers back T-shirt is stained with old food Her blonde hair hasn’t been brushed and greasy enough to fry eggs on “Marcie, you gotta pull it together Gus needs his mother”

“Leaveherself with the piles of clothes and clinging to a photograph

“One , Doc”

“I’ll be fine”

“Does Gus have what he needs for tomorrow?”

“What’s tomorrow?”