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Show -38- Peppermint Monday hospitals and sickness. Russ identified with sickness too well. If Russ was home and awake, it was an unspoken rule: no doctor, nurse, hospital, or emergency type of shows. Here Russ was, breaking his own rule, and he wasn't even enjoying it. "Is it a good program?" I asked with forced lightness. "No," Russ at least answered me. "Should I change stations?" "No." I sat down on the edge of the couch and ruffled Russ' hair a little. We sat there for a long time, both of us watching the television, but neither of us really seeing the show. Ma came in the bathroom later while I was brushing my teeth. She usually didn't bother me when I was in the bathroom, I liked my privacy. I was about to tell her that when I saw her damp cheeks. She'd been crying again. "Excuse me, Carly. I hate to bother you, but I need a favor." "Sure,"I said with a mouth full of toothpaste. What else could I say to ma? Especially after a bad day like she had had. "I- I need you to go find old Jake for me." Ma was stuttering. She had a right to be nervous. Old Jake was not my favorite person. She knew how his visits with Russ bothered me. "Why?" I couldn't believe anyone wanted old Jake to come around. Most people avoided him or tried to get rid of him if he did come around. Ma was asking for him. It had to be a first. "Russ needs him right now. He needs a friend." "You've got to be joking, Russ has us. He doesn't need old Jake. He has his family." This couldn't be the same mother who wished for Chicago |
