Mom and Aunt Kate appointed themselves head present passers. In the chaos of tearing paper and excited children, it was hard to track what everyone el...e was doing.Despite my Christmas letter, Mom and Dad gave me only one piece of clothing, a new coat to replace the one that had been torn when Donbo caused me to wipe out. The new parka was inoffensive beige, long enough to cover my butt, had a hood, and had lots of pockets. Whoever had picked it out, probably Mom, had taken into account my. Sliding free of her embrace, he sat on the ground next to her and then fell onto his back. The whole world seemed so big now, weighing in on him.“Mike?”“Yeah, I’m good.” He yawned, his body suddenly heavy. His muscles hurt, and he could no longer hold up his head. “I’m just going to ... take a nap...” He closed his eyes, darkness swooping in to claim him.A cool breeze blew through the window, making him shiver.Opening his eyes, he saw a giant crack in the stone ceiling above him. When he sat. Sounds good. See you then!”I hung up and Penny started laughing, “Unreal!”“What?”“You call to confirm a dinner appointment with your friend Ben and a chick asks you to bone her!”“She did not!” I laughed. “She’s the one who babysat me on my trip last year and whose head nearly exploded when Ben told her about my situation. Trust me, it’s totally innocent.”“Oh sure, that’s how it ALWAYS starts, but then there’s moaning and screaming!”I laughed, “Nice. But just like my ‘date’ with Tara in. I waited a minute before I spoke, knowing what he was saying, and now I was mad."Preacher, I ain't no kid anymore and though I know I can take you, I am not going to go through all that macho bullshit. I will tell you right now I will shoot you in the leg and leave you for the medics. I am responsible for my family, not you, and these little soldier games don't work with me anymore. Do you fully understand me?"He didn't answer me for about three minutes. When he did, I was ready for more shit.