@@@@@ 703 "Boss, these are incredible," he said,
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703
"Boss, these are incredible," he said, "but
they're a little spooky, too
"I guess that's a compliment," I saidThe truth
was, talking to Tom felt spooky, knowing what I
did about him
"It's definitely a compliment," he said"Listen,
you're headed for your family
And he started to do just that, but I grabbed him
by the elbow
"Stick with me," I said"Together we can repel
all boardersOn my own, I may not get to Pam and
the girls until nine o'clockOld Tommy looked goodHe'd added some
pounds since that day at Lake Phalen, but I'd read
that antidepressants sometimes do that, especially
to menOn him, a little more weight was okayThe
hollows under his eyes had filled in
"How've you been, Tom?"
"Well He lifted one
hand in the air, as if to wave off a commiseration
I hadn't offered"It's a chemical imbalance thing,
and it's a bitch getting used to the pillsThey
muddy up your thinking at first - they did mine,
anywayI went off them awhile, but I'm back on
704
now and life's looking betterIt's either the
fake endorphins kicking in or the effect of
springtime in The Land of a Billion Lakes
"And The Freemantle Company?"
"The books are in the black, but it's not the same
without youI came down here thinking I might
pitch you on coming backThen I got a look at
what you're doing and realized your days in the
building biz are probably done
He gestured toward the canvases in the main room
"What are they, really? I mean, no bullshit
Because - I wouldn't say this to very many people
- they remind me of the way life was inside my
head when I wasn't taking my pil