”Damn, where did he come up with these rules? I liked them.“Deal,” I shouted, giving Candice a wicked grin.Emily whispered to me, “What if I h...ve to sit on Dirk’s lap?”“Don’t worry,” I told her, “Have faith in the Cowboys.”She smirked, “You do realize this is the Dallas Cowboys, you’re talking about? We’re losing 16 to 5, Tony.” I nodded.I’d never cared so much about a game before. I’d played fantasy football, but this was a hundred times better. We all were watching with great anticipation.. "Hartman's heart sank. No, her client was not taking the news well. She spent the rest of the counseling session trying to convince Ruthie that she was not a freak and that her condition was not rare at all. By the end of the appointment, Ruthie understood that she never 'fit in' not just because of her screwed-up parents, but also because of a condition that had a name, was identified by science, and was diagnosable. Unfortunately, the only 'cure' was learning about coping strategies. In other. M. every morning. This was just another part of his anarchistic and lonely struggle: the midget versus the digits.The next Saturday he was back in Norton's and had himself safely hidden in a coffee urn at closing time. When he crept out the back door in the darkness, the sign was down and in its place an improved surrealist version concocted by himself:NO SALES PERSON MAY LEAVE THE FLOOR OR LOOK OUT THE DOOR WITHOUT PERMISSION OF A SUPERIOR-THE MGT.Markoff Chaney returned to the store several. “Ok, I promise... !!”“Much better, now take it easy tonight and don’t do anything that’ll require me back to treat this little sweetie.” He caressed Sue’s arm softly. Smiled benignly at us both and left.I turned Sue to face me. “He’s treated you before? For what?”“Oh fuck...” Her, not me.We walked back to my room arm in arm, but silent. This time I needed to know things, but in private. So I bided my time until the door closed and we could relax on my bed, my arms around her, comforting,.