I tried to help, but there really
wasn’t a whole lot I could do.
Beth had everything under control,
and I fell asleep about three in the
morning. We’d abandoned the tent by
then and were both sleeping on the
floor next to the bed.
I didn’t get much sleep, because I
was still worried about Fishy, and the
angry mobs showing up, but I did get
some.
Beth woke me a little after seven
to tell me his temp was down a whole
degree, and she was so happy, but also
looked absolutely exhausted.
I told her to go upstairs and take
a nap, and she didn’t even argue with
me. She grabbed a pillow and a blanket
and crawled inside the tent instead of
climbing up all those stairs.
* She got a couple hours sleep, be-
fore Barry came by to see how everyone
was surviving. He laughed at our little
arrangement in the living room, and
then went in to see Fishy.
“I was scared for a little while,"
Beth told him, "but even though it was
a little high, it remained steady, and
now he’s back down to normal.”
They talked for a few minutes
while I made coffee. I knew it was a
waste of time, because I also knew what
was coming, but it was like a tradition
by now.
I filled three cups, put them on a
tray, and carried them into the bed-
room. Barry was thanking Beth for her
help, and then tried to give her money.
That’s how it always started, be-
cause that’s when she’d tell him to get
the fuck out of the house, and he’d
always laugh right back at her.
CHAPTER 3: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22nd
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