No, indeed I must say, fair Allison, your taste rivals my own. Guard her well or I shall surely steal her away." Oh James, you are such an unconsciona...le flatterer. As to my young friend here, her name is Shannon, and you should be on your own guard or she will surely steal your very heart." She took Shannon's hand and held it to her cheek. "Much as she has stolen my own." Alas, then I am too late."By now Shannon had been given enough time to grasp the scene and joined in. "Never too late for. I quit the job at the truck stop because I could make so much more by staying in the trailer at night. When Karen knocked on the door I thought she was coming for my nineteenth birthday. Then I saw the suitcase and daddy's truck pulling away from my door."This is where I pause to say that I made another poor decision. I didn't want her to stay but what could I do? She knew what I was doing; daddy made sure of that. Karen had been jilted by one of the home town boys."When the landlord found out. ."Yes," I finally answered her, unable to meet her eyes."Danny," mom whispered, hurrying to my side. "Are you okay? Oh, ofcourse you aren't... I'm so sorry..." For what?" I asked, raising my voice in anger. "Leaving me?"I winced in pain but my mom winced as well, though for an entirelydifferent reason. My mom's twist meant that she couldn't handleconfrontations of any sort. A raised voice was enough to overwhelm her,which was why she'd been such a natural victim for my dad's. When mom came out of the bathroom, Clare rushed in behind her, "Do you want another beer while I'm still up?" Yes I do." Clare called out just before the door fully closed behind her."Yes, I'll take another one, thanks."Just before Clare came out of the bathroom, mom came back from the kitchen with three open beers. After setting one down on the coffee table in front of me, she handed me a beer then sat down in her chair again with her beer.Just as Clare came out of the bathroom and around the.