Clearly, the Wolf family thought highly of the game of chess and its players.He took two pieces, a white and a black pawn, hid them behind his back, t...en held them out to me in closed fists. I chose, and wound up playing black. He chose the traditional Ruy Lopez opening, much as I had in that earlier game, but now I was playing defense right from the start, as Eric played a very aggressive game.Although I was concentrating on the board, at times during the match I looked up to see Herr Wolf. With time on my hands I threw the laundry bag in my car and found an unoccupied payphone.Nothing I could say would convince my mother how sorry I was about ignoring Heather in her time of need. I did learn, during one of the lulls in our shouting match, that Heather had delivered a baby boy on December 23, 1989 and that she and the baby had taken up residence in her old room. "No, Heather doesn't want to talk to you."I called home and gave Suzanne the news. She said Mr. Oldham would send. I decided that I would thinkbetter on a full stomach so I went to the kitchen for a snack.I had cut a grapefruit in half, and was sprinkling sugar on it when Davewalked in and opened the fridge. After pulling out a soda he looked atme. Nodded his head and said, "Wassup, dude?"Shocked I stuttered, "Nuthin".Dave left the kitchen and fell into the couch and turned on the TV, andbegan his usual afternoon of Sportscenter. How did he not notice mychanges? I must have lost, like, a hundred pounds. I. My boner pulled free and quivered for a second like a released spring.I couldn’t bear to see her, but I couldn’t bear to ignore her any more. I looked down. Something was obscuring my vision. Tears, I realized with a start. I was crying too. Sam looked up as I looked down. Her bloodshot eyes met mine. And her tears stopped. I didn’t know what that meant, but I hoped I was forgiven.“Have you ever given a blow job, Sam?”“No…” Sam’s voice was unsure, weak. “Have you ever seen a blow job in.