Jan 24, 0000

When my gran
journal instead of paying rent. I was hoping he would learn something.
He did.

Just not enough.

When my grandson came to live with me, I told him he had to keep a
journal instead of paying rent. I was hoping he would learn something.
He did.

Just not enough.

I asked mom if she was going to d
still loyal. She said dad used to be a lot like me. Then she started to cry and made me go help grandpa
change the oil in his car.

I couldn’t do it right and I got fucking oil all over my jeans and we can’t afford to bu
order to operate a mechanical device,” Grandpa said, “you h

“Shut. The fuck. Up.”

“What did you just say?”

“Shut the fuck up! Jesus Christ, I can’t do anything right! I know we’re supposed to be grateful you let
us stay in your godforsaken pie
going to, going to—“

“Going to what?” Grandpa said. And what was weird was, he was grinning from ear to ear.

Without thinking I wiped my hands on my shirt, draggi

Grandpa laughed.

“Shut up!” I yelled. I leaned back against the car. “Jesus I nearly HIT you, all right? Just … I’m mad
all the time now, and when I’m not mad I’m … I don’t know. Something. I used to watch the TV all the
time and now I HATE it. Why am I so pissed off? I never used to be like this at home. What the fuck
is wrong with me?

“Nothing at all,” Grandpa sai
couldn’t fix.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means I am an asshole, and I’m glad you noticed. Finally.” I started to a
waved me off. “Go get washed up, Jerry. Your momma sees those clothes, she’s gonna bust out crying.”

Something about the way

Fucking weird.

I asked mom if she was going to divorce dad. She said no, that even if she wasn’t in love she was
still loyal. She said dad used to be a lot like me. Then she started to cry and made me go help grandpa
change the oil in his car.

I couldn’t do it right and I got fucking oil all over my jeans and we can’t afford to buy new ones. “In
order to operate a mechanical device,” Grandpa said, “you have to be smarter than it is. Dipstick.”

“Shut. The fuck. Up.”

“What did you just say?”

“Shut the fuck up! Jesus Christ, I can’t do anything right! I know we’re supposed to be grateful you let
us stay in your godforsaken piece of shit trailer, but I swear to god if you don’t get off my back I am
going to, going to—“

“Going to what?” Grandpa said. And what was weird was, he was grinning from ear to ear.

Without thinking I wiped my hands on my shirt, dragging oilstains on it, too. “Fuck!”

Grandpa laughed.

“Shut up!” I yelled. I leaned back against the car. “Jesus I nearly HIT you, all right? Just … I’m mad
all the time now, and when I’m not mad I’m … I don’t know. Something. I used to watch the TV all the
time and now I HATE it. Why am I so pissed off? I never used to be like this at home. What the fuck
is wrong with me?

“Nothing at all,” Grandpa said. Still with that grin. “Nothing wrong with you that a little well water
couldn’t fix.”

“What the hell does that mean?”

“It means I am an asshole, and I’m glad you noticed. Finally.” I started to ask another question but he
waved me off. “Go get washed up, Jerry. Your momma sees those clothes, she’s gonna bust out crying.”

Something about the way he said it made it sound like that would make him pretty happy, too.

Fucking weird.


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