‘I told you why. We can’t grow old together.’ ‘Peggy, I’m just hoping to get us through this night without you trying to go drown yourself, ...ith me having to come die at your side … again.’ ‘Why did you do that?’ she asked. ‘Because I love you Peggy! I … love … you.’ ‘I’m not worthy of that,’ she said. ‘Why the hell not?’ I asked with some sudden heat. ‘Because Jason died?’ ‘Because I couldn’t save the man I loved.’ She sniffled in the dark. I couldn’t make out her face now, just a dark shape.. ”“Thanks for confirming that, Melanie. You’re so supportive,” I said, my voice dripping with sarcasm.“Boys!” she said with an exasperated tone.“Well, I’ve had this thing for Kathy Will for over a year. But she’s a cheerleader. She’s nice to me, talks to me, and actually asked for help with homework once. But she’s out of my league, I think.”“Nobody is out of your league, Steve. Now, that doesn’t mean every girl is going to want to be with you, but you’re smart, look nice, treat girls nice, and. The bags she carried were heavy, the wound paper handles cut into her fingers, even through the gloves without the fingertips she had found last night. She had to carry them; after all, everything that was important was in them.Looking up, she noticed the blue, white and black whales swimming overhead, their gurgling sound gave her a tingle in her belly. She giggled and scanned the station for a purpose. "Move, move, move, get out of the way." Her mind flopped and then screamed at the nameless. It’s about the only time Mom allows smoking in the house. The men get the kitchen. We thanked God for the hands that prepared the food; they thanked God for the hands that cleaned it up.When we were all finished, we went to the den to see what the score was. One glance around the room and I wondered exactly what the score was. Mom, Aunt Lily, Sally Ann, Brenda, and their kids on the floor. No Mary Beth and no Ashley.“Um ... Where’s Mary Beth and Ashley?” I bravely asked.“Hmm. Girl-talk, I.