Fallout (Crank 3)

keep him from taking a chance

on future bad behavior. Ka-ching.

KYLE EXITS THE FREEWAY

Swings in the correct direction.

“What about your dad?” I ask.

“What are you going to tell him?”

We are bumping along the dirt

by the time he answers. He won’t

even know I’m gone for a week.

Any other week, maybe. But,

“Uh … Christmas. Remember?

Anyway, your sister would notice.”

He thinks for a while, and I see

his shoulders slump slightly.

Forgot about Christmas.

Sadie will miss me for sure.

Then he brightens. At least

I’ll get to spend it with you.

Anyway, holidays bring out

the asshole in my dad. He starts

drinking at breakfast, goes

all day until after dessert or

until he passes out. And every

drink just makes him meaner.

AS WE PULL INTO THE DRIVEWAY

I think about my own dad’s drinking.

He starts early, finishes late. But

he doesn’t very often get mean.

Maybe that’s ’cause he mostly

drinks beer. But I don’t think