章 40: Chapter 40

“What would you like me to call you?”

“Michael. Michael is fine.”

“What’s your pleasure, Michael?” he asked as I pulled the door shut behind me.

I went down to the small lobby on the ground floor to wait. I’d brought a deck of cards with meto pass the time, but someone had left a newspaper on a chair. I’d read the paper instead.

I sat down and opened it to the horoscopes. I was a Capricorn.

You are valued by your friends. That was nice to know. Love will turn up where you least expectit. Yeah, right.

I looked for the advice column.

Dear Esme,

I walked into my son’s bedroom to find him kissing his best friend. Hadn’t the woman ever heard of knocking? Does this mean he’s gay? What did she think? His father is furious and blames me. Sure. He had nothing to do with it. Where did I go wrong? How could my son do this to me? What do I do now?

Heartbroken mom

“Shoot your bastard of a husband, lady, and throw a coming-out party for your son.”