* * * *
In the car, Jason pressed a white towel against the wound. “I think they were afraid of a lawsuit,” he said. “Did you see all their faces?”
“They should be sued,” Brian said.
“I’m glad you can drive a manual.” He sounded weak and dizzy.
“I’m glad you have a car.”
“I live over on—”
“I think we should take you to the ER.”
Jason bolted up in his seat. “No. No hospital.”
“Jason,” Brian said, “you’re bleeding. I don’t know why you didn’t let them call an ambulance.”
“No hospitals,” Jason whispered.
“They’re not so scary. The worst part is how long you have to wait for—” He stopped. He started remembering all the…shit…that his father went through, and how Sheila couldn’t fathom how Brian could head overseas to study in France while their father underwent chemo.
He squeezed the
