Chapter 27
Dad worked late, so the boys had dinner alone. Jim read a policing book while he ate, and Brian fidgeted in his seat, stress running through him. It had become common for no specific cause. “You should be working on your school stuff, Jim. I know you haven’t been doing all your homework.”
“What are you now, a mother?”
“f**k you!”
Jim clapped his book closed. “And you seem to have lost interest in that, too, but you always have time to watch the f*****g war news on the f*****g TV.”
Brian got up and cleaned the table, then washed dishes and pots. He had to hold back the tears, but his jaw quivered. He clenched it to keep it still.
They went into silent mode the rest of the night, and Jim stayed up late drawing and doing homework.
Brian watched the news, then slinked to bed
