My wife Katrina called the doctor and he told her that it sounded like I was passing a kidney stone and that she should get me to the emergency room a... the hospital.It was a twenty-minute trip and every bump, chuckhole, and imperfection in the pavement sent a jolt of red-hot pain through my body.At the hospital they medicated me for the pain, took x-rays and sure enough they found a kidney stone. They pumped more painkillers in me, gave me some hydromorphone to take home with me and a strainer. “Now my dearest, it’s your turn. We’ll discuss how to be a good host by not allowing your guest to get drunk outside the house. Second, even when I’m not around, the need for you to follow my rules. It’s clear to me these lessons need to be enforced, so you’ll be getting a firm reminder. I’m sure you’ll remember them if you know what’s good for you.” Stepping behind me Art started pushing me toward the chair while her free hand slapped my butt several times.Now standing by the chair my husband. Talking to Quinn earlier had helped some, but there was a lot of bitterness and heartache still there. Seeing him welled up so many feelings, which she immediately shifted towards anger and pride because they were easier to deal with. She met his eyes with a look that she hoped was defiant and smoldering, then looked away and crossed the deck, knowing he was watching.This wasn’t her. She hated it. The feelings. The whole performance of it. She hated the fact that she felt any of it was. I asked Cherry to come over because of what happened at work yesterday. I’m a fireman and we were called to the scene of an accident—the worst I’ve ever seen. I helped pull a young girl out of the car. She was being flown by life flight to the hospital, but she died in transit; I was holding her hand at the time. I took it really hard and needed a friend to talk to. That’s all. Cherry slept on the couch.” The last sentence was technically true: she slept there with her head on my lap.