"Do I need to go kick has ass?" I said"No, I dont want him hurt, if you kick his ass he wont take me back." She said"Well I cant say he will take you ...ack but I can go talk to him." I said holding back my rage."Really? You would do that for me?" She asked"Sure, where is he?" I ask."He should be at the skatepark" She said wiping tears from her eyes."Alright be back soon." I said grabbing my keys.As I drive to the skatepark I talk to myself about how im gonna talk to him. I dont know him all him. Perhaps they shacked up together every time I was away, even before my mum died. I couldn't believe my mother would ever allow Hodge anywhere near her, but she had gone back to hitting the bottle, and picking up unsuitable shagging partners in the Black Swan pub, after Vivian, her longtime lover, returned to his wife. It was possible, although highly unlikely, she had brought Hodge home one night and perhaps Miriam joined in ... a three-in-a-bed job?The image of three in a bed brought Maggie,. My heart was filled seeing her and all of her playmates squeal with delight as she opened her gifts one by one. I am also sure she even enjoyed the paddy whacks I allowed each of her friends to give her on her bare bottom as she lay across my lap. The laughter could be heard for miles around. It was all I could do not to cry when she came into the kitchen and simply threw her arms around me, gave me a big kiss on the lips and said, "Thank you, Uncle Pat. I love you," before toddling off back to. " It's good. Have you made this before?" Hundreds of times." For me?"I thought about it while I chewed the forkful I'd just put in my mouth. "I don't think so." It's good. We should have this again." The next time we have leftover chicken, I'll think about it," I said. "So, did you find any mice in the dog food?" Nope. A pig and a couple of goats and a giraffe that got away but no mice."Laurie put her hand over her mouth and laughed."He's pretty silly, isn't he?" I said to her.She nodded her.