Page 134 - Where the Dream Ends ebook

Marc Erdrich

Their sparring turned to earnest, and it was only a matter of
time before one of them gave up or succumbed to an injury. By

rights, it should have been Larry who lost in the fray. Joey had
it over Larry in height and weight. But Larry waited, knowing
Joey wouldn’t hurt him. He collapsed into Joey’s arms, and in
the instant that Joey loosed his grip, Larry pulled his hand free
and shoved the paper into his mouth. It was all Joey could do
to keep from screaming as Larry swallowed the winning ticket.

“I don’t believe it. I don’t fucking believe it.” He pushed
Larry away and turned to leave, banging into a stool that was
sticking out from the kitchen counter. He picked up the stool
and tossed it aside. It crashed into a table, pushing over a vase
full of flowers that tumbled onto the floor alongside the stool,
creating a mess.

“Typical,” Larry said. “I suppose you’ll leave that for me to

clean up?”
Joey ignored him and made his way toward the front door.
He stopped in the hallway for a few seconds, leaning against

the wall lost in thought.

“Everyone’s gonna know how fucking stupid you are,” Joey
said, turning around to face Larry. “I’m going to tell everyone
I know. Everyone. And I’ll never fucking talk to you again.”

Joey’s rage was subsiding. But Larry could see it would be
a long time before he would calm down. It was Joey’s loss as
much as Larry’s.

“We’ll see,” Larry said.

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