Fallout (Crank 3)

it. Now it seems a little ostentatious.

Wonder if Mom and Dad would have

gone so all out without the boys here.

SAID BOYS

Disappear into their (my) room.

Mom vanishes into her office

to write. New book. Fantasy.

Dad decides to work on dinner,

something he often does even

when Mom is home. Chef Dad.

I sit at the table, munching cookies,

watching him season the roast.

Here is a chance to talk about

something that matters. Like?

“So, Dad …” Do I dare ask?

Oh, why the hell not? “Have

you ever cheated on Mom?”

He looks up, humor in his eyes.

Is this some sort of a test?

Do you have a hidden recorder?

That makes me smile. “No,

no. This isn’t about blackmail.

And you don’t have to answer.

I just wondered because …”

Because of what happened with Nikki?

And here I always thought Mom was

the psychic. “Uh … kinda … yes.”

He lines a baking pan with foil.

Nestles the roast inside. I thought

that might be it. One of your listeners?