The air around me still smacked of Arizona. I got slowly to my feet and took a look at myself, pants ripped and bloody, my shirt no better off and onl... wearing one shoe. I felt the blood crusted all down my face and neck and my hair was stiff with it. Yeah, I’m a sexy bitch, alright. I found my shoe laying a few feet away and slipped it back on my foot and stared at the horizon, pondering. Maybe it wasn’t worth it. Maybe these gifts were really a curse. Maybe it was better for everyone if I. John looks at his watch and knows there is no time to go get them and bring them back. John takes the set Gabby is holding and smiles. “Is this the right size Gabby?” Gabby’s hand is squeezing John’s tightly in excitement. “Yeah, that’s my size. But I need my Mom to pay. Oh god, I guess I can’t get it.” John pulls on Gabby’s hand and walks towards the check out cash register. He is smiling and turns to Gabby. “Well I feel so guilty about your sixteenth birthday. I mean I only got you a Bruno. Tom started to pull away, but then accepted the aress. ‘I just can’t stand to think about you being with anyone else.’ Tom turned back and stared hard into her eyes. ‘The guys were laughing and I just couldn’t stand it.’ ‘Tom, honey,’ Jackie cooed, ‘don’t let them treat you like that. You know they just wanted to set you off. They’re mean that way. Think about it, you wouldn’t lend one of those baboons money. Isn’t your honor worth more than that?’ Jackie kissed his rough chin lightly,. “Here you go.” After a second, she said, “Yeah, you like those eggs. I’m very good at scrambling eggs. As men with wandering hands have found out.”I coughed and said, “So I’ve gathered.”“Lesson always bears repeating,” she said, and Grace nodded in agreement.I looked at Sarah as Grace devoured her chow. “When did you get here?”“Three days ago. Grace said she was a little afraid being in the house by herself, so, being on vay-kay myself, I came over on the train.”“Were you on the couch? Sharing.