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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