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“Yeah, that came out nastier than it sounded in my head. Sorry. But I’m not wrong, am I?”
She thought for a minute. “No. I don’t like lumping in the families that broke from loss with the families that broke because somebody broke them, but you’re right. We were all a mess.”
“But you made a great family. All that damage, but you didn’t pass it on. None of you did. My generation? We’re good. We all grew up in tight homes, with parents who love each other and work through their shit without dumping it on the kids. We all grew up knowing that our parents and a whole lot of other people love us like crazy. There’s been a lot of loss, but nobody broke anything on purpose.”
Mom studied him for a while; he could see her combing through her own memories. “I’ve never actually sat down and thought about it, but you’re right. Everybody who’s in a committed relationship, married or not, is totally committed—and healthy, as far as I know. All these years, and we’re all still together, if we can be. Wow.”
Wending his way over to her, Duncan set his hands on his mom’s shoulders. “I know how to make a family. You taught me.”
His mother smiled up at him, tears rising in her eyes. “You’re a good boy, Duncan.”
He kissed her cheek and whispered, “You taught me that, too.”
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~oOo~
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Bop it!
Pull it!
Flick it!
Bop it!
Flick it!
Twist it!
Twist it!
Twist it!
Ugh, game over. Do it again, but better.
Duncan groaned.
With some fresh batteries and a couple swipes with a shop towel to clean it up, the old Bop It worked just fine. He’d forgotten how much fun the thing was.
“Okay, my turn,” Jay said and snatched the old toy from Duncan’s hands. “I’m taking you down this time.”
“Don’t get cocky ‘til I had my turn,” Monty said. “We both kicked your ass last round, and I only missed Dunc by one.” He leveled a look at Duncan. “I’m comin’ for you.”
“Go ahead and come,” Duncan volleyed with a laugh. “Wanna make it interesting?”
“Always,” Monty said. “How much?”
“I’m in,” Jay added.
Before Duncan could respond, a familiar, gruff voice said, “The fuck you all doin’?”
They all turned to face their president, who stood just inside the door with his arms crossed.
“Playing Bop It,” Jay answered. “Wanna try it?”
“No, I do not want to try your little toy. How ‘bout you try some fuckin’ work?” He waved pointedly at the three cars in the bays.
