The next day, Brian woke, thinking of Mrs. Guardino. Jim had spent the night at home, afraid for his mother. She and George had argued heatedly, and worse than ever, just before bed, but Jim and Brian had talked by phone for thirty minutes.
Later that night, Brian had nightmares about being in war. To nudge them from his mind, he went to the bathroom, had a snack from the kitchen, but when he went back to sleep, he dreamt he was drafted and the other soldiers lined up to take turns raping him in the mouth and ass, making him bleed from both places.
He went to Jim’s the next morning, surprised to discover that George had a job and was gone. He and Jim biked the two miles to San Jose Hospital and found the Mrs. Guardino’s room. Despite two family members there, they rushed to her bed. The
