The meeting at Rollie’s was a somber affair, with none of the usual bull s**t. We made a pact to always stick together, have each other’s back, and make all significant decisions. It was good to see the guys again in the pool hall. Most were married now with one or two kids. It was good to see Rollie there on the weekends again. He retired after thirty-two years in the steel mill. I told Larry, Mike, and Augie I would spend the next week at home with my mom and that I’d be ready to go the following week.
