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FAIRLY WELL4 ,WE _H ! PORRIDGE COLD AG
AT NOON1 & HOT PORRIDGE AT NI<T2
PORRIDGE & SMALL BE] 0 MY UNCLE'S DIET4
,HE SPOKE B LL1 & T 9 ! SAME WAY Z 2F1
%OOT+ A "Q AT ME AF A L;G SIL;E2 & :5 ,I
S"\ 6L1D HM 6TALK AB MY FUTURE1 SLIPP$ \
( X AG4 ,9 A ROOM NEXT DOOR 6! KIT*51 ":
HE SU6]$ ME 6G1 ,I F.D A GRT NUMB] (
BOOKS1 BO? ,LAT9 & ,5GLI%1 9 : ,I TOOK
GRT PL1SURE ALL ! AFN4 ,9DE$1 ! "T PASS$
S LI<TLY 9 ? GD -PANY1 T ,I 2GAN 6BE ALM
RECONCIL$ 6MY RESID;E AT ,%AWS2 & NO?+ B
! SI<T ( MY UNCLE1 & 8 EYES PLAY+ HIDE &
SEEK ) M9E1 REVIV$ ! =CE ( MY 4TRU/4
  ,"O ?+ ,I 4COV]$1 : PUT ME 9 "S D\BT4
,? 0 AN 5TRY ON ! FLY-L1F (A *AP-BOOK
7"O ( ,PATRICK ,WALK]'S7 PLA9LY WRITT5
0MY "F'S H& & ?US 3CVD30 ,6MY BRO!R
,EB5EZ] ON 8 FIF? BIR?"D0 ,N[1 :AT
PUZZL$ ME 0 ?3 ,T1 Z MY "F 0 ( C\RSE !
"Y] BRO!R1 HE M/ EI H MADE "S /RANGE
]ROR1 OR HE M/ H WRITT51 2F HE 0 YET
FIVE1 AN EXCELL5T1 CLE> MANLY H& (
WRIT+4
  ,I TRI$ 6GET ? \ ( MY H1D2 B ?\< ,I
TOOK D[N _M 9T]E/+ AU?ORS1 OLD & NEW1
HI/ORY1 POETRY1 & /ORY-BOOK1 ? NO;N ( MY
"F'S H& ( WRIT+ /UCK 6ME2 & :5 AT L5G?
,I W5T BACK 96! KIT*51 & SAT D[N ONCE M
6PORRIDGE & SMALL BE]1 ! F/ ?+ ,I SD
6,UNCLE ,EB5EZ] 0 6ASK HM IF MY "F _H N
BE5 V QK AT 8 BOOK4
  8,ALEX&]8 ,NO HM60 0 ! REPLY4 8,I 0 F>
QK] MYSEL0'2 ,I 0 A CL"E *APPIE :5 ,I 0
"Y4 ,:Y1 ,I CD R1D Z SOON Z HE CD40
  ,? PUZZL$ ME YET M2 &A ?"\ -+ 96MY
H1D1 ,I ASK$ IF HE & MY "F _H BE5 TW9S4
  ,HE JUMP$ ^U 8 /OOL1 &! HORN SPOON
FELL \ ( 8 H& ^U ! FLOOR4 8,:AT G>S YE
ASK T80 HE SD1 & HE CAU<T ME 0! BR1/ (!
JACKET1 & LOOK$ ? "T /RAI<T 96MY EYES3 8
[N 7 LL & LI<T1 & B"R L A BIRD'S1 BL9K+
& W9K+ /RANGELY4
  8,:AT D Y M1N80 ,I ASK$1 V CALMLY1 =
,I 0 F> /R;G] ?AN HE1 & N EASILY F"R5$4
8,TAKE YR H& F MY JACKET4 ,? IS NO WAY
62HAVE40
  ,MY UNCLE SEEM$ 6MAKE A GRT EF=T ^U
HMF4 8,DOD MAN1 ,DAVID10 HE SD1 8YE
%DNAE SP1K 6ME AB YR "F4 ,T'S ": !
MISTAKE IS40 ,HE SAT A:ILE & %OOK1 BL9K+
9 8 PLATE30 ,HE 0 ALL ! BRO!R T "E ,I
_H10 HE A4$1 B ) NO HE>T 9 8 VOICE2 & !N
HE CAU<T UP 8 SPOON & FELL 6SUPP] AG1 B
/ %AK+4
  ,N[ ? LA/ PASSAGE1 ? LAY+ ( H&S ^U MY
P]SON & SU45 PROFES.N ( LOVE = MY D1D
"F1 W5T S CL1N 2Y MY -PREH5.N T X PUT ME
96BO? FE> & HOPE4 ,ON ! "O H&1 ,I 2GAN
6?9K MY UNCLE 0 P]H 9SANE & MI<T 2
DANG]\S2 ON ! O!R1 "! CAME UP 96MY M9D
7Q UNBI45 0ME & EV5 4C\RAG$7 A /ORY L "S
BALLAD ,I _H HE>D FOLK S++1 (A POOR LAD
T 0 A "R;L HEIR &A WICK$ K9SMAN T TRI$
6KEEP HM F 8 [N4 ,= :Y %D MY UNCLE PLAY
A "P )A RELATIVE T CAME1 ALM A BE7>1
6HIS DOOR1 UN.S 9 8 HE>T HE _H "S CAUSE
6FE> HM8
  ,) ? NO;N1 ALL UNAC"KL$G$1 B N"E!.S
GETT+ FIRMLY SETTL$ 9 MY H1D1 ,I N[ 2GAN
6IMITATE 8 COV]T LOOKS2 S T WE SAT AT
TA# L A CAT &A M\SE1 EA* /1L?ILY OBS]V+
! O!R4 ,N ANO!R ^W _H HE 6SAY 6ME1 BLACK
OR :ITE1 B 0 BUSY TURN+ "S?+ SECRETLY
OV] 9 8 M9D2 &! L;G] WE SAT &! M ,I
LOOK$ AT HM1 ! M C]TA9 ,I 2CAME T ! "S?+
0 UNFRLY 6MYF4
  ,:5 HE _H CLE>$ ! PLATT]1 HE GOT \ A
S+LE PIPE;L ( TOBA3O1 J Z 9 ! MORN+1
TURN$ R.D A /OOL 96! *IMNEY CORN]1 & SAT
A:ILE SMOK+1 ) 8 BACK 6ME4
  8,DAVIE10 HE SD1 AT L5G?1 8,I'VE BE5
?9K+20 !N HE PAUS$1 & SD X AG4 8,"!'S A
WEE BIT SILL] T ,I HALF PROMIS$ YE 2F YE
7 BORN10 HE 3T9U$2 8PROMIS$ X 6YR "F4
,O1 NAE?+ LEGAL1 YE "U/&2 J G5TLEM5 DA6+
AT _! W9E4 ,WELL1 ,I KEEPIT T BIT M"OY
SEP>ATE--X 0 A GRT EXP5SE1 B A PROMISE
IS A PROMISE--& X HAS GR[N 0N[ 6BE A
MATT] ( J PRECISELY--J EXACTLY0--& "H HE
PAUS$ & /UM#D--8( J EXACTLY =TY P.DS60
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%\LD]2 &! NEXT MO;T A4$1 ALM )A SCR1M1
8,SCOTS60
  ,! P.D ,SCOTS 2+ ! SAME ?+ Z AN ,5GLI%
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3SID]A#2 ,I CD SEE1 2SS1 T ! :OLE /ORY 0
A LIE1 9V5T$ ) "S 5D : X PUZZL$ ME
6GUESS2 & ,I MADE NO ATTEMPT 63C1L ! T"O
( RAILL]Y 9 : ,I ANSW]$0
  ,O1 ?9K AG1 SIR ,P.DS /]L+1 ,I
2LIEVE60
  8,T'S :AT ,I SD10 RETURN$ MY UNCLE3
8P.DS /]L+6 ,& IF Y'LL /EP \-BY 6! DOOR
A M9UTE1 J 6SEE :AT K9D (A NI<T X IS1
,I'LL GET X \ 6YE & CALL YE 9 AG40
  ,I DID 8 W1 SMIL+ 6MYF 9 MY 3TEMPT T
HE %D ?9K ,I 0 S EASILY 6BE DCVD4 ,X 0 A
D>K NI<T1 )A FEW />S L[ D[N2 & Z ,I /OOD
J \TSIDE ! DOOR1 ,I HE>D A HOLL[ MOAN+ (
W9D F> (F AM;G ! HILLS4 ,I SD 6MYF "! 0
"S?+ ?"UY & *ANGE;L 9 ! W1!R1 & LL KNEW
( :AT A VA/ IMPORT.E T %D PROVE 6ME 2F !
EV5+ PASS$4
  ,:5 ,I 0 CALL$ 9 AG1 MY UNCLE C.T$ \
96MY H& SEV5 & ?IRTY GOLD5 GU9EA PIECES2
! RE/ 0 9 8 H&1 9 SMALL GOLD & SILV]2 B
8 HE>T FAIL$ HM "!1 & HE CRAMM$ ! *ANGE
96HIS POCKET4
  8,"!10 SD HE1 8T'LL %[ Y6 ,I'M A QUE]
MAN1 & /RANGE WI0' /RANG]S2 B MY ^W IS
MY BOND1 & "!'S ! PRO( ( X40
  ,N[1 MY UNCLE SEEM$ S MIS]LY T ,I 0
/RUCK DUMB 0? SU45 G5]OS;Y1 & CD F9D NO
^WS 9 : 6?ANK HM4
  8,NO A ^W60 SD HE4 8,NAE ?ANKS2 ,I
WANT NAE ?ANKS4 ,I D MY DUTY4 ,I'M NO
SAY+ T "EYBODY WD H1 D"O X2 B = MY "P
7?\< ,I'M A C>E;L BODY1 TOO7 X'S A
PL1SURE 6ME 6D ! "R 0MY BRO!R'S SON2 &
X'S A PL1SURE 6ME 6?9K T N[ WE'LL AGREE
Z S* NE> FRS %D40
  ,I SPOKE HM 9 RETURN Z H&"SLY Z ,I 0
A#2 B ALL ! :ILE ,I 0 WOND]+ :AT WD -E
NEXT1 & :Y HE _H "P$ ) 8 PRECI\S GU91S2
= Z 6! R1SON HE _H GIV51 A BABY WD H
REFUS$ X4
  ,PRES5TLY HE LOOK$ T[>DS ME SIDEWAYS4
  8,& SEE "H10 SAYS HE1 8TIT = TAT40
  ,I TOLD HM ,I 0 R1DY 6PROVE MY
GRATITUDE 9 ANY R1SONA# DEGREE1 & !N
WAIT$1 LOOK+ = "S MON/R\S DEM&4 ,& YET1
:5 AT LA/ HE PLUCK$ UP C\RAGE 6SP1K1 X 0
ONLY 6TELL ME 7V PROP]LY1 Z ,I ?"\7 T HE
0 GR[+ OLD &A LL BROK51 & T HE WD EXPECT
ME 6HELP HM )! H\SE &! BIT G>D54
  ,I ANSW]$1 & EXPRESS$ MY R1DI;S 6S]VE4
  8,WELL10 HE SD1 8LET'S 2G940 ,HE PULL$
\ ( 8 POCKET A RU/Y KEY4 8,"!10 SAYS HE1
8"!'S ! KEY (! /AIR-T[] AT ! F> 5D (!
H\SE4 ,YE C ONLY W9 96X F ! \TSIDE1 = T
"P (! H\SE IS NO F9I%$4 ,GANG YE 9 "!1 &
UP ! /AIRS1 & BR+ ME D[N ! *E/ T'S AT !
TOP4 ,"!'S PAP]S IN'T10 HE A4$4
  8,C ,I H A LI<T1 SIR80 SD ,I4
  8,NA10 SD HE1 V CUNN+LY4 8,NAE LI<TS 9
MY H\SE40
  8,V WELL1 SIR10 SD ,I4 8,>E ! /AIRS
GD80
  8,!Y'RE GR&10 SD HE2 & !N1 Z ,I 0 GO+1
8,KEEP 6! WALL10 HE A4$2 8"!'S NAE
BANNI/]S4 ,B ! /AIRS >E GR& "UFOOT40
  ,\ ,I W5T 96! NI<T4 ,! W9D 0 / MOAN+ 9
! 4T.E1 ?\< N"E A BR1? ( X CAME NE> !
H\SE ( ,%AWS4 ,X _H FALL5 BLACK] ?AN "E2
& ,I 0 GLAD 6FEEL AL;G ! WALL1 TILL ,I
CAME ! L5G? (! /AIRT[] DOOR AT ! F> 5D (
! UNF9I%$ W+4 ,I _H GOT ! KEY 96!
KEYHOLE & _H J TURN$ X1 :5 ALL ^U A
SU451 )\T S.D ( W9D OR ?"U1 ! :OLE SKY
LI<T$ UP ) WILD FIRE & W5T BLACK AG4 ,I
_H 6PUT MY H& OV] MY EYES 6GET BACK 6!
COL\R (! D>K;S2 & 9DE$ ,I 0 ALR HALF
BL9D$ :5 ,I /EPP$ 96! T[]4
  ,X 0 S D>K 9SIDE1 X SEEM$ A BODY CD
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PRES5TLY /RUCK ! WALL )! "O1 &! L[]MO/
R.D (! /AIR )! O!R4 ,! WALL1 0! T\*1 0 (
F9E HEWN /"O2 ! /EPS TOO1 ?\< "S:AT /EEP
& N>R[1 7 ( POLI%$ MASON"W1 & REGUL> &
SOLID "UFOOT4 ,M9D+ MY UNCLE'S ^W AB !
BANNI/]S1 ,I KEPT CLOSE 6! T[] SIDE1 &
FELT MY WAY 9 ! PIT* D>K;S )A B1T+ HE>T4
  ,! H\SE ( ,%AWS /OOD "S FIVE FULL
/OREYS HI<1 N C.T+ L(TS4 ,WELL1 Z ,I
ADV.ED1 X SEEM$ 6ME ! /AIR GREW AIRI] &A
?"\ M LI<T"S2 & ,I 0 WOND]+ :AT MI<T 2 !
CAUSE ( ? *ANGE1 :5 A SECOND BL9K (!
SUMM] LI<TN+ CAME & W5T4 ,IF ,I DID N
CRY \1 X 0 2C FE> _H ME 0! ?ROAT2 & IF
,I DID N FALL1 X 0 M 0,H1V5'S M]CY ?AN
MY [N /R5G?4 ,X 0 N ONLY T ! FLA% %"O 9
ON E SIDE "? BR1*ES 9 ! WALL1 S T ,I
SEEM$ 6BE CLAMB]+ AL(T ^U AN OP5
SCA6OLD1 B ! SAME PASS+ B"R;S %[$ ME !
/EPS 7 ( UNEQUAL L5G?1 & T "O ( MY FEET
RE/$ T MO;T )9 TWO 9*ES (! WELL4
  ,? 0 ! GR& /AIR6 ,I ?"\2 &)! ?"\1 A
GU/ (A K9D ( ANGRY C\RAGE CAME 96MY
HE>T4 ,MY UNCLE _H S5T ME "H1 C]TA9LY
6RUN GRT RISKS1 P]H 6DIE4 ,I SWORE ,I WD
SETTLE T 8P]H10 IF ,I %D BR1K MY NECK =
X2 GOT ME D[N ^U MY H&S & KNEES2 & Z
SL[LY Z A SNAIL1 FEEL+ 2F ME E 9*1 &
TE/+ ! SOLID;Y ( E /"O1 ,I 3T9U$ 6ASC5D
! /AIR4 ,! D>K;S1 03TRA/ )! FLA%1 APPE>$
6H RED\#D2 NOR 0 T ALL1 = MY E>S 7 N[
TR\#D & MY M9D 3F.D$ 0A GRT /IR ( BATS 9
! TOP "P (! T[]1 &! F\L B1/S1 FLY+
D[NW>DS1 "S"TS B1T AB MY FACE & BODY4
  ,! T[]1 ,I %D H SD1 0 SQU>E2 & 9 E
CORN] ! /EP 0 MADE (A GRT /"O (A DI6]5T
%APE 6JO9 ! FLI<TS4 ,WELL1 ,I _H -E
CLOSE 6"O ( ^! TURNS1 :51 FEEL+ =W>D Z
USUAL1 MY H& SLIPP$ ^U AN $GE & F.D NO?+
B EMPTI;S 2Y X4 ,! /AIR _H BE5 C>RI$ NO
HI<]2 6SET A /RANG] M.T+ X 9 ! D>K;S 0
6S5D HM /RAI<T 6HIS D1?2 & 7AL?1 ?ANKS
6! LI<TN+ & MY [N PRECAU;NS1 ,I 0 SAFE
5\<7 ! M]E ?"\ (! P]IL 9 : ,I MI<T H
/OOD1 &! DR1D;L HEI<T ,I MI<T H FALL5 F1
BR"\ \ ! SW1T ^U MY BODY & RELAX$ MY
JO9TS4
  ,B ,I KNEW :AT ,I WANT$ N[1 & TURN$ &
GROP$ MY WAY D[N AG1 )A WOND];L ANG] 9
MY HE>T4 ,AB HALF-WAY D[N1 ! W9D SPRANG
UP 9 A CLAP & %OOK ! T[]1 & DI$ AG2 !
RA9 FOLL[$2 & 2F ,I _H R1*$ ! GR.D LEVEL
X FELL 9 BUCKETS4 ,I PUT \ MY H1D 96!
/ORM1 & LOOK$ AL;G T[>DS ! KIT*54 ,!
DOOR1 : ,I _H %UT 2H ME :5 ,I LEFT1 N[
/OOD OP51 & %$ A LL GLIMM] ( LI<T2 & ,I
?"\ ,I CD SEE A FIGURE /&+ 9 ! RA91 Q /1
L A MAN HE>K5+4 ,& !N "! CAME A BL9D+
FLA%1 : %[$ ME MY UNCLE PLA9LY1 J ": ,I
_H FANCI$ HM 6/&2 & H>D ^U ! HEELS ( X1
A GRT T[-R[ ( ?"U4
  ,N[1 :E!R MY UNCLE ?"\ ! CRA% 6BE !
S.D ( MY FALL1 OR :E!R HE HE>D 9 X
,GOD'S VOICE DEN\NC+ MURD]1 ,I W L1VE Y
6GUESS4 ,C]TA9 X IS1 AT L1/1 T HE 0
SEIZ$ ON 0A K9D ( PANIC FE>1 & T HE RAN
96! H\SE & LEFT ! DOOR OP5 2H HM4 ,I
FOLL[$ Z S(TLY Z ,I CD1 &1 -+ UNHE>D 96!
KIT*51 /OOD & WAT*$ HM4
  ,HE _H F.D "T 6OP5 ! CORN] CUPBO>D &
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N[ SAT ) 8 BACK T[>DS ME AT ! TA#4 ,"E &
AG HE WD 2 SEIZ$ )A FIT ( D1DLY %U4]+ &
GROAN AL\D1 & C>RY+ ! BOTTLE 6HIS LIPS1
DR9K D[N ! RAW _SS 0! M\?;L4
  ,I /EPP$ =W>D1 CAME CLOSE 2H HM ": HE
SAT1 & SU45LY CLAPP+ MY TWO H&S D[N ^U 8
%\LD]S--8,AH60 CRI$ ,I4
  ,MY UNCLE GAVE A K9D ( BROK5 CRY L A
%EEP'S BL1T1 FLUNG UP 8 >MS1 & TUM#D 6!
FLOOR L A D1D MAN4 ,I 0 "S:AT %OCK$ AT
?2 B ,I _H MYF 6LOOK 6F/ ( ALL1 & DID N
HESITATE 6LET HM LIE Z HE _H FALL54 ,!
KEYS 7 HANG+ 9 ! CUPBO>D2 & X 0 MY
DESIGN 6FURNI% MYF ) >MS 2F MY UNCLE %D
-E AG 6HIS S5SES &! P[] ( DEVIS+ EVIL4
,9 ! CUPBO>D 7 A FEW BOTTLES1 "S
APP>5TLY ( M$IC9E2 A GRT _M BILLS & O!R
PAP]S1 : ,I %D WILL+LY 5 H RUMMAG$1 _H
,I _H ! "T2 &A FEW NECESS>IES T 7 NO?+
6MY PURPOSE4 ,?;E ,I TURN$ 6! *E/S4 ,!
F/ 0 FULL ( M1L2 ! SECOND ( M"OYBAGS &
PAP]S TI$ 96%1VES2 9 ! ?IRD1 ) _M O!R
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RU/Y1 UGLY-LOOK+ ,HI<L& DIRK )\T !
SCA2>D4 ,?1 !N1 ,I 3C1L$ 9SIDE MY
WAI/COAT1 & TURN$ 6MY UNCLE4
  ,HE LAY Z HE _H FALL51 ALL HU4L$1 ) "O
KNEE UP & "O >M SPRAWL+ ABROAD2 8 FACE
_H A /RANGE COL\R ( BLUE1 & HE SEEM$ 6H
C1S$ BR1?+4 ,FE> CAME ON ME T HE 0 D1D2
!N ,I GOT WAT] & DA%$ X 9 8 FACE2 &) T
HE SEEM$ 6-E A LL 6HMF1 "W+ 8 M\? &
FLUTT]+ 8 EYELIDS4 ,AT LA/ HE LOOK$ UP &
SAW ME1 & "! CAME 96HIS EYES A T]ROR T 0
N ( ? _W4
  8,-E1 -E10 SD ,I2 8SIT UP40
  8,>E YE ALIVE80 HE SO2$4 8,O MAN1 >E
YE ALIVE80
  8,T AM ,I10 SD ,I4 8,SMALL ?ANKS 6Y60
  ,HE _H 2GUN 6SEEK = 8 BR1? ) DEEP
SI<S4 8,! BLUE PHIAL10 SD HE--8IN !
AUMRY--! BLUE PHIAL40 ,8 BR1? CAME SL[]
/4
  ,I RAN 6! CUPBO>D1 &1 SURE 5\<1 F.D "!
A BLUE PHIAL ( M$IC9E1 )! DOSE WRITT5 ON
X ON A PAP]1 & ? ,I ADM9I/]$ 6HM ) :AT
SPE$ ,I MI<T4
  8,X'S ! TR\#10 SD HE1 REVIV+ A LL2 8,I
H A TR\#1 ,DAVIE4 ,X'S ! HE>T40
  ,I SET HM ON A *AIR & LOOK$ AT HM4 ,X
IS TRUE ,I FELT "S P;Y =A MAN T LOOK$ S
SICK1 B ,I 0 FULL 2SS ( "RE\S ANG]2 & ,I
NUMB]$ OV] 2F HM ! PO9TS ON : ,I WANT$
EXPLAN,N3 :Y HE LI$ 6ME AT E ^W2 :Y HE
FE>$ T ,I %D L1VE HM2 :Y HE 4LIK$ X 6BE
H9T$ T HE & MY "F 7 TW9S 8,IS T 2C X IS
TRUE80 ,I ASK$2 :Y HE _H GIV5 ME M"OY 6:
,I 0 3V9C$ ,I _H NO CLAIM2 &1 LA/ ( ALL1
:Y HE _H TRI$ 6KILL ME4 ,HE HE>D ME ALL
"? 9 SIL;E2 & !N1 9 A BROK5 VOICE1 BE7$
ME 6LET HM G 6B$4
  8,I'LL TELL YE ! MORN10 HE SD2 8Z SURE
Z D1? ,I W40
  ,& S W1K 0 HE T ,I CD D NO?+ B 3S5T4
,I LOCK$ HM 96HIS ROOM1 H["E1 & POCKET$
!1 KEY1 & !N RETURN+ 6! KIT*51 MADE UP
S* A BLAZE Z _H N %"O "! = _M A L;G YE>1
& WRAPP+ MYF 9 MY PLAID1 LAY D[N ^U !
*E/S & FELL ASLEEP4

