Page 114 - Where the Dream Ends ebook
P. 114
Marc Erdrich
“Why don’t you have it?” he heard Joey scolding, as he
scraped a plate encrusted with dried egg yolk.
“Joey, leave her alone,” Larry yelled, shutting off the water.
“You bother that woman all day long. She’s allowed to throw
out yesterday’s paper.”
“Larry says I should stop bothering you, you’re allowed
to throw out yesterday’s paper,” Joey said, repeating Larry’s
words verbatim.
“You’re such a masochist,” Larry said.
There was a brief silence, then Joey laughed.
“What did she say?” Larry asked.
“She says I should listen to you.” He was enjoying the at-
tention from the two of them.
“Give me the phone!” Larry said, grabbing the receiver
from Joey’s hand.
“Angie, how many times a day does he call you?” Larry
asked.
“Too many,” she said, her voice bristling.
”I don’t know how to stop him, Larry said. “He just goes
on and on.”
I’ve given up trying,” Angie said. “He can’t help himself.”
“She says you’re not capable of helping yourself,” Larry re-
peated out loud for Joey to hear. Joey laughed, knowingly.
“She says you think she’s your mother, but she’s not,” Larry
continued, translating.
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