
    ,,ei<t
  ,lionel ,& ,uncle ,&r`e
  ,"! 0 no clock 9 ! base;t (! ,wa%+ton home ": ,lionel & 8 uncle slept s.dly4 ,lionel n"e _h 6worry ab gett+ up on "t4 ,8 "f made "s racket 2f he pull$ | at six e morn+4 ,!n ,lionel's "m made sure "eybody 0 up & 9 ! process ( gett+ r1dy = s*ool 0! "t %e left at sev54 ,i don't "k :at y kids >e go+ 6d :5 y're | on yr {n10 %e (t5 sd4 8,i'm cr1t+ mon/}s :o don't move till !y're told40
  ,x seem$ too b"r1 too late :5 ,lionel awoke4 ,he _h alw be5 a sl{ ris}1 9 a cl|d until he got up & mov$ >.d1 w5t 6! ba?room1 got br1kfa/4 ,? morn+ he didn't feel l mov+4 ,he m}ely op5$ 8 eyes1 squ9t$ at ! sun rays t _h "sh{ f.d _! way "? ! t9y base;t w9d{s1 & wat*$ ! du/ d.e 9 ! columns ( li<t4
  ,lionel 0 on 8 back1 />+ at ! floorbo>ds1 wir+1 & duct"w 9 ! base;t ceil+4 ,? 0 a sc>y place 9 ! d>k ( ni<t4 ,he n"e slept "h al"o4
  ,lionel _h a vague recollec;n ( ,&r`e slipp+ | ( b$1 "s"t af midni<t1 he guess$4 ,&r`e "s"ts sn1k$ | (! h|se =a smoke4 ,2c ,&r`e alw slept s s.dly af t1 ,lionel's "f once wond}$ al|d if ,&r`e 0 smok+ "s?+ /r;g} ?an toba3o4 ,& :5 ,&r`e sp5t m "t ?an nec 9 ! t9y ba?room 9 ! base;t1 ev5 ,lionel wond}$ if he 0 tak+ drugs4
  ,:5 ,&r`e;came back f :at"e he 0 do+1 he wd collapse onto ! s(a b$ ) ,lionel & wdn't seem 6move a muscle = h|rs4 ,x 0 n uncommon = ,uncle ,&r`e 6/ 2 sleep+1 9 ! same posi;n1 ev5 af ,lionel's "m _h -e d{n 6r|/ ,lionel | ( b$4 ,!y mi<t >gue or crab at ea* o!r--usu,y j 9 fun--& !y 7 n"e quiet4 ,b ,uncle ,&r`e wd rema9 d1d 6! _w4
  ,once1 ,lionel's "m _h made ! mistake ( try+ 6r|se ,&r`e too4 ,he 0 s | ( x & s angry t %e j apologiz$ & n"e tri$ ag4 ,he got up :5 he got up1 & t 0 (t5 v late 9 ! morn+4 ,? morn+ ,lionel cdn't ev5 he> ,&r`e br1?+4 ,he turn$ 6make sure 8 uncle 0 alive4
  ,"! he lay1 on 8 /oma*1 8 face turn$ away f ,lionel4 ,! sl{1 rhy?mic h1v+ ( 8 back told ,lionel t ,&r`e 0 f9e4 ,b he sure 0 quiet4
  ,lionel he>d ! ph"o r+ up/airs4 ,8 "m or ,cl>ice wd answ} x4 ,!y alw did4 ,lionel's "f (t5 urg$ 8 wife 6let ! answ}+ ma*9e scre5 calls :5 !y 7 try+ 6get r1dy = "w & s*ool or :5 !y 7 hav+ a m1l or sleep+4 ,b ,luc9da ,wa%+ton made x cle> 6! family t %e hat$ answ}+ ma*9es4 ,_!s 0 (f z l;g z any"o 0 9 ! h|se4 ,! la/ "o | cd turn x on 8s x c s}ve ! purpose x 0 design$ =10 %e wd say4 8,n s we c scre5 calls or get lazy4 ,x's = cat*+ calls :5 we're away1 p}iod40
  ,? morn+ ! ph"o kept r++1 & ,lionel he>d no foot/eps up/airs4 ,maybe x 0 e>li} ?an he ?"|4 ,he sat up1 feel+ t fo7i;s & h1vi;s t made hm move s sl{ly e morn+4 ,no "o 0 answ}+ ! ph"o4 ,:at "t 0 x1 anyway8
  ,lionel groan$ & :ipp$ (f ! blankets4 ,uncle ,&r`e did n /ir4 ,lionel felt ! *ill (! base;t z he mov$ /i6le7$ t{>d ! /airs4 ,pass+ a w9d{1 he notic$ 8 "f's pickup truck 9 ! driveway1 block+ ! g>age door ": 8 "m's c> 0 p>k$4 ,x is e>ly1 ,lionel decid$4 ,:o'd 2 call+ at ? "t (! morn+ ,lionel 0 9 8 "uwe>1 & 8 "m didn't want hm 8p>ad+ >.d t way1 n{ t y're a te5ag}10 b he ?"| %e mi<t =give hm if he answ}$ ! ph"o = h}4 ,b :y wasn't %e or ,dad answ}+ x8 ,!y _h an ext5.n ph"o on _! b$ ta#4
  ,! ph"o rang & rang1 b ,lionel 0 9 no hurry4 ,! ph"o 0 n"e = hm anyway4 ,he wd answ} x only 2c x woke hm & "! 0 no?+ else 6d4 ,anyway1 he 0 curi|s4
  ,! kit*5 0 at ! top (! /airs4 ,! li<ts 7 (f4 ,no "o 0 up4 ,he r1*$ =! ph"o4 ,x 0 ,v}na ,zee f his "m's (fice4 8,hi1 hon10 %e sd4 ,lionel1 isn't x80
  8,yes1 ma'am40
  8,is %e "!80
  8,:o80
  8,yr "m1 ( c|rse40
  8,um1 ,i ?9k s4 ,%e's n up yet40
  8,n up8 ,%e's usu,y ! f/ "o "h40
  ,lionel gl.ed at ! wall clock1 /unn$4 ,x 0 late morn+4 8,uh1 ,i'm pretty sure h} c>'s / "h4 ,y want me 6wake h}80
  8,no4 ,i "w = h}1 n ! o!r way >.d4 ,! only r1son ,i let ! ph"o r+ = s l;g is t ,i "k "s"o's alw "! if ! ma*9e doesn't pick up40
  8,um-hm40 ,lionel wi%$ he 7 / 9 b$4
  8,x's j t on a big news "d l ?1 ,i'd expect h} 2f n{40
  8,um-hm40 ,lionel _h no idea :at ,v}na 0 talk+ ab1 & nei did he c>e4 ,big news = adults 0 r>ely big news = hm4 8,y want me 6tell h} y call$80
  8,pl1se4 ,oh1 & ,i al h a message = yr si/}40
  8,: "o80
  8,cl>ice4 ,h} fr ,vicki call$ & wants ,cl>ice 6call h}4 ,y "k h}80
  8,no1 b ,i've he>d ',reece talk ab h}40
  8,well1 %e s.ds r1l anxi|s 6talk 6,cl>ice40 ,v}na gave hm ! numb}1 & ,lionel promis$ 6pass al;g ! message4
  ,lionel didn't want 6"k :y "ey"o 0 sleep+ in4 ,he j want$ 65joy x4
  ,he cd h1d back d{n/airs & cat* "s m sleep4 ,if ! ph"o didn't wake any"o1 :y %dn't he8 ,he gl.ed at ! cal5d>4 ,x 0 no holi"d4 ,no?+ 0 plann$ b "w & s*ool4 ,he _h />t$ back d{n/airs :5 he /opp$ & turn$ >.d4
  ,wait1 he ?"|4 ,i cd 2 a h}o4 ,i cd 2 ! "o :o keeps "eybody f 2+ ev5 m late4
  ,lionel w5t f ! kit*5 "? ! d9+ room t{>d ! /airs t l$ 6! up/airs b$rooms4 ,he op5$ ! door :5 he notic$ "s?+ 9 8 p}iph}al vi.n4 ,on 8 dad's easy *air lay ! ov}siz$ t}ry clo? robe4 ,lionel /opp$ & turn$1 />+ at x4 ,he _h n"e "kn 8 "f 6take 8 robe (f |tside ! b$room4 ,?|< he slept 9 pajamas1 he 3sid}$ x impolite to 8walk >.d 9 public 9 !m10 he alw sd1 ref}r+ 6his {n family z ! public4
  ,maybe he _h be5 w>m4 ,&r`e & ,lionel _h g"o 6! base;t :ile ,dad 0 / sitt+ "!1 ne>ly doz+4 ,maybe he %$ 8 robe :ile half asleep1 n ?9k+4 ,b t wasn't l hm4 ,he _h alw tak5 grt pride 9 8n 2+ "o ( ~? husb&s ~: wife alw has 6trail hm1 pick+ up af hm40
  ,lionel mov$ 96! liv+ room1 ": he notic$ 8 "f's slipp}s on ! floor 9 front (! *air4 ,! robe lay "! n1tly1 >ms drap$ on ! sides (! *air alm z if ,dad's elb{s / re/$ "!4 ,:5 ,lionel saw ! pajama legs ext5d+ f ! bottom (! robe & hang+ j abv ! slipp}s1 x 0 obvi|s 8 "f _h 4appe>$ "r | ( 8 pajamas & robe4 ,?|< ,lionel 0 alw unhurri$ & delib}ate 9 ! logy morn+s1 n{ x 0 z if life xf _h swit*$ 6sl{ mo;n4 ,he 0 n aw>e ( 8 body z he c>e;lly adv.ed1 hold+ 8 br1? & feel+ only ! p.d+ ( 8 he>t4 ,! h>% sunli<t %"o on ! robe & pick$ up sp>kl+ gl9ts ( "s?+ ": ,dad's lap %d h be54
  ,lionel knelt & />$ at 8 "f's t9y 3tact l5ses1 8 wri/wat*1 8 w$d+ r+1 d5tal fill+s1 8 d>k br{n he>+ aid1 ! "o he 0 s pr|d ( 2c he1 _h sav$ until he cd af=d "o t wd truly bl5d ) 8 sk9 color4
  ,lionel's h&s %ook z he =c$ hmf 6exhale 2f he explod$4 ,he felt 8 lips quiv} & 0 aw>e ( scr1ms he cd n let |4 ,he crept =w>d on 8 knees & op5$ ! robe 6f9d ,dad's pajamas / button$ all ! way up4 ,lionel recoil$ & sat back1 8 feet "u hm4 ,su45ly x hit hm4 ,he l{}$ 8 face 62t 8 knees & so2$4 ,if ? 0 :at he fe>$ x was1 he knew :at 0 up/airs4 ,empty b$s4 ,ni<tclo!s4
  ,b wd "ey"o 2 g"o8 ,he didn't want 6horrify hmf4 ,he didn't want 6see "ey?+ t _h be5 left 2h1 j z he was4 ,he j want$ 6"k :e!r he 0 al"o4 ,lionel ran 6! /airs & b.d$ up two at a "t4 ,ll ,luci's b$ 0 empty4 ,s 0 ,ronnie's4
  ,lionel 0 | ( br1?4 ,he didn't want 6panic1 b he cdn't 3trol 8 emo;ns4 ,x 0 too p}fect t 9 ,cl>ice's t9y room1 h} op5 ,bi# lay on h} pill{4 ,he imag9$ h} "!1 z he _h notic$ s _m "ts1 ly+ on h} /oma*1 r1d+4
  ,! ma/} b$room 0 m ?an he cd be>4 ,8 p>5ts' b$ 0 / made1 8 "m's b$clo!s drap$ on "o side ": x 0 cle> %e _h be5 kneel+ 9 pray}4 ,h{ ,lionel wi%$ he _h be5 tak5 6h1v5 ) 8 family & t he _h be5 f.d r1d+ 8 ,bi# or pray+ :5 ,jesus came4
  ,only =! briefe/ 9/ant did ,lionel wond} if he 7 dr1m+4 ,he knew bett}4
  ,? 0 r1l4 ,? 0 ! tru?4 ,all d|bt & "q _h 4appe>$4 ,8 family _h be5 raptur$ z 8 *ur*1 8 pa/or1 & 8 p>5ts _h tau<t4 ,& he _h be5 left 2h4
  ,he _h want$ 6believe 8 ,uncle ,&r`e :5 he sd t liv+ a gd life 0 "o ?+ b t all ? ab pie-in-!-sky by-&-by & h1v5 &! ,rapture 0 j s m* mumbo jumbo4 ,lionel r1liz$ t he 2liev$ ev5 m ?an ,&r`e did1 b s9ce he _h n"e d"o any?+ ab x1 he _h miss$ |4
  ,uncle ,&r`e4 ,he 0 / 9 ! base;t1 &= all ,lionel knew1 0 / s.d asleep4 ,te>s /r1m+ d{n 8 face1 ,lionel hurri$ back d{n1 =c+ hmf n 6look at 8 dad's empty clo!s on ! *air on 8 way 6! kit*5 &! base;t /airs4 ,on ! ta# he notic$ ! message he _h j writt5 6,cl>ice f h} fr ,vicki4 ,he gra2$ x & b.d$ d{n ! /eps4
  ,lionel yank$ on j1ns &a %irt & 0 lac+ up 8 sn1k}s z he call$ | 6,&r`e4 8,y'd bett} get up1 man10 he :9$1 feel+ ! sobs 9 8 ?roat4 8,we're 9 big tr|#40
  ,b ,&r`e didn't /ir4 ,lionel sat on ! $ge (! c|* & />$ at 8 unconsci|s uncle4 ,h{ he wd l 6blame ,&r`e1 anybody1 = 8 {n failure4 ,b he cdn't4 ,he knew "ey?+ 8 family knew4 ,he _h simply n b"| 96x4 ,! "q n{ was1 0 x too late8 ,0 "! any hope = "s"o :o _h be5 left 2h8
  ,he su45ly felt old} & wis} ?an 8 uncle4 ,& ,&r@e didn't seem all t cool & wise anymore4 ,lionel knew "s?+ ,&r`e didn't1 t !y _h bo? be5 wr;g1 d1d wr;g4 ,:at 0 ! use ( wak+ ,&r`e n{8 ,he wd le>n ! tru? soon 5|<4 ,let hm sleep 9 ignor.e1 ,lionel decid$4 ,? news wd ru9 ! re/ ( 8 life4
  ,lionel trudg$ back up 6! kit*5 & slump$ 96a *air ne> ! ph"o4 ,0 any"o f 8 *ur* left 2h 2ss hm & ,&r`e8 ,he call$ ! *ur*1 &! answ}+ ma*9e pick$ up1 ! pa/or's voice ann|nc+ :5 ,sun"d's & ,w$nes"d's s}vices 7 s*$ul$4 ,he 3clud$1 8,& rememb}3 ,keep look+ up1 wat*+ & wait+1 =! "t (! ,"l drawe? ni<40
  ,lionel /ood 6hang up ! ph"o z ! ann|nce;t 3t9u$ ab l1v+ a message af ! t"o1 b su45ly "s"o pick$ up ! ph"o4 8,hello8 ,hello8 ,is any"o "!80
  8,yes60 ,lionel sd4 8,:o's ?80
  8,? is ,fr$die40
  8,fr$die1 ? is ,lionel4 ,:o else is "!80
  ,fr$die 0 *airman (! tru/ee bo>d1 ! -mittee t took c>e (! *ur* & al sup}vis$ ! u%}s4 ,fr$die 0 (t5 at ! *ur*1 "w+ or organiz+ ! ma9t5.e4 8,nobody1 ,lionel4 ,nobody else is "h b me4 ,old ,mr4 ,hazel's clo!s >e "h1 b he 0 ! only "o 9 ! build+ la/ ni<t1 play+ ni<t wat*man :5 ! trumpet s.d$40
  8,:5 ! :at80
  8,oh1 ,i didn't he> x1 ,lionel4 ,if ,i'da he>d x1 ,i'd 2 g"o & s wd y4 ,b y're call+ j l "eybody else :o's call+ ? morn+4 ,y miss$ x j l me1 didn't y8 ,& y're ! only "o 9 yr family left1 >5't y80
  8,i am4 ,well1 except ,&r`e40
  8,is he "!80
  8,he's / sleep+40
  8,get hm up & let me talk 6hm60
  8,no1 ,i'm go+ 6let hm sleep1 ,fr$die40 ,lionel didn't d>e ask h{ a man s d$icat$ 6! *ur* cd h miss$ ! ,rapture4 8,i'm -+ ov} "! !n10 ,fr$die sd4 8,we1 y & ,i1 we bo? le>n$ a h>d lesson td1 didn't we1 boy80
  8,yes1 sir4
  8,i'm go+ 6talk "s s5se 96t uncle ( yrs1 & we're go+ 6be r1dy = all ! p :o -e 6? ll li<th\se look+ = answ}s40
  ,"eybody 9 ,lionel's *ur* ref}r$ 6x z ! ll li<th\se at "o "t or ano!r4
  8,s nobody else f ! *ur* got left 2h b u ?ree80 ,lionel ask$4
  8,oh1 "!'ll 2 m10 ,fr$die sd4 8,s f> all ,i've he>d f >e nei<borhood p4 ,i'm pray+ "eybody else :o knew ! tru? act$ on x 2f x 0 too late1 b ,i imag9e "!'ll 2 m ( u turn+ up04
  8,:at d we d n{1 ,fr$die8 ,>e we go+ 6hell80
  8,i don't "k = sure1 boy1 b ,i aim 6f9d |4 ,&= />t}s ,i'm -+ 6talk 6t uncle ( yrs40
  ,x wd 2 at l1/ an h|r 2f ,fr$die cd get 6,m.t ,prospect1 ,lionel knew4
  ,he want$ 6turn on ! ,,tv & see :at ! news sd ab ! 4appe>.es4 ,x m/ h caus$ all sorts ( *aos4 ,b f/ he dial$ ! numb} ,v}na ,zee _h giv5 hm = ,vicki ,byrne4
  ,lionel he>d desp},n 9 h} voice4 ,he id5tifi$ hmf & %e immly sd1 8,cl>ice is g"o1 isn't %e8 ,4appe>$40
  8,yes40
  8,& yr p>5ts &1 :at1 a c|ple ( "y} kids80
  8,all g"o40
  8,oh1 ,god40
  8,t's :at ,i ?9k too4 ,x 0 ,god40
  8,"!'s no d|bt ab t4 ,:at >e y go+ 6d1 ,lionel80
  ,i don't "k4 ,my uncle's "h1 &a guy's -+ f *ur*4 ,i'll 2 all "r4 ,:at >e y go+ 6d80
  8,i'm go+ 6g 6my p>5ts' *ur*4 ,i call$ "!1 &a guy "nd ,bruce ,b>nes is wait+ = me4 ,he says "!'s / hope40
  8,hope80
  8,= u1 = "eybody left 2h40
  8,re,y80
  8,t's :at he sd4 ,he didn't want 6talk ab x on ! ph"o4 ,b ,i'm go+ "!4 x's n f> f yr h|se40
  8,! :ite *ur*80
  ,i ?9k x's brick40
  8,no1 ,i m1n ! :ite p's *ur*80
  ,i guess4 ,i'm go+ ? afn4 ,:y don't y -e too80
  8,i mi<t40
  ,lat}1 af ,fr$die >riv$ & r|s$ ,&r`e1 ,lionel answ}$ yet ano!r call4
  8,wa%+tons10 he sd4 8,cam}on ,williams ( ,global ,weekly call+ = ,luc9da ,wa%+ton40
  8,my mom's n "h40
  8,is %e / at ! (fice8 ,i ne$ a recomm5d,n = ": 6/ay ne> ,waukegan40
  8,%e's no":10 ,lionel sd4 8,i'm ! only "o left4 ,mama1 ,da4y1 "eybody else is g"o4 ,4appe>$40
  8,>e y sure80
  8,_! clo!s >e "h1 "r ": !y 7 sitt+4 ,my da4y's 3tact l5ses >e / on top ( 8 ba?robe40
  8,oh1 man6 ,i'm sorry1 son40
  8,t's all "r4 ,i "k ": !y >e1 & ,i c't ev5 say ,i'm surpris$40
  8,y "k ": !y >e80
  8,if y "k my mama1 y "k ": %e is too4 ,%e's 9 h1v540
  ,! man s.d$ unconv9c$4 8,y1h1 well1 >e y all "r8 ,is "! "s"o 6look af y80
  8,my uncle's "h4 ,&a guy f |r *ur*4 ,probably ! only "o :o's / >.d40
  8,y're all "r !n80
  8,i'm all "r40
  ,f ! base;t ,lionel he>d f/ ! lau<t} f 8 uncle1 :o a3us$ ,fr$die ( pull+ a practical joke on hm4 ,fr$die assur$ hm x 0 no joke1 & ,&r`e 2gan 6cry1 !n 6scr1m4 ,he rac$ up ! /eps1 pu%+ pa/ ,lionel4 8,tell me x isn't true1 ,lionel60
  8,x's true1 ,uncle ,&r`e40
  ,9 ! liv+ room ,&r`e %riek$ at ! si<t ( 8 bro!r-in-law's pajamas1 robe1 & o!r mat}ial items4 ,lionel pok$ 8 h1d in4 8,y don't want 6g up/airs1 ,&r`e40
  ,b ,&r`e ignor$ hm & *>g$ up "!4 ,lionel he>d l|d so2+1 swe>+1 & doors op5$ & slamm$ %ut4 ,&r`e b>g$ back d{n4 8,":'s yr da4y keep 8 truck keys80 he dem&$4
  8,:y8 ,yr c> is /--0
  8,my c> is tra%6 ,n{ ": >e !y80
  ,&r`e's eyes 7 wild4 8,on ! hook next 6! refrig}ator1 b--0
  ,&r`e gra2$ ! keys1 dropp$ !m1 scoop$ !m up ag1 & hurri$ |4 8,>5't y go+ 6get dress$80 ,lionel call$ af hm1 app>5tly mak+ ,&r`e rememb} he didn't ev5 h 8 wallet4
  ,&r`e ran back in1 ga!r$ up 8 pants & wallet & %oes1 & b.d$ back | 9 8 "uwe>4 ,he ro>$ away 9 ! truck1 & ,lionel wond}$ if he wd "e see hm ag4
  ,fr$die ask$ if ,lionel want$ 6g back 6! *ur* ) hm4 8,no1 sir4 ,i'm go+ 6/ay "h & wat* ! news4 ,!n ,i'm go+ 6meet a fr ( ,cl>ice's40   8,i'll *eck on y lat}10 ,fr$die sd1 & ,lionel ?ank$ hm4
  ,he made 8 way sl{ly 96! liv+ room & sat on ! c|*1 wat*+ ! horri# news f >.d ! _w4 ,sitt+ acr f 8 "f's empty b$clo!s1 ,lionel _h n"e felt s al"o4
