Fallout (Crank 3)

all that often. Also a sort

of jealousy because

of Hunter. I mean, she

and Grandpa Scott adopted

him. When I was younger, and

in foster care, I wondered

why him and not me?

And I thought it was

because they didn’t have

enough love to go around. Semi-

irrational, I know. I mean, they

couldn’t reasonably

take in all of Mom’s

kids. And now, it seems,

they did take me in, at least for

a little while. But then, how

did I end up with Dad?

BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION

I wait for him to drop the butt

of his cigarette into the foam

at the bottom of the Pabst can.

Sssss! The sound is snakelike.

Don’t much like snakes.

“So did Grandma Marie know

you were my father or what?

Did you know each other?”

Dad chuckles. We had met once.

Let’s just say it didn’t go so well.

Your grandmother didn’t think much

of me, or of any of Kristina’s men.