PAPPY.

Pappy busts through the door, hollerin' "Howya'lldoin'?"....

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The fringe on his leather vest trails him to the front counter. He locks eyes with me and clasps my hand in his. His fingers are rough.....

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"It's goodta seeya gurl."....

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I see that a pink Bic Daisy razor, clogged with grey stubble is about to fall from the pocket of his pearl-snap shirt. I squeeze his hands and say, "it's good to see you too Pappy. We've been worried about you. We wanted to go out to your place, but we were afraid you'd shoot us."....

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"Been upta Tyler, stayin' with ma daughter, closeta the VA hospital. I tole that doctor 'you tell me why I ain't dead gawd-damnit!' He couldn't tell me, so I left that gawd-damn town. I hate that Tyler. I come home, back to the woods, where I belong."....

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“I hate Tyler too Pappy. It's good to see ya. Cheryl is sure gonna be sorry she missed ya."....

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"I'm gonna sit down over yonder, drink a cuppa coffee."....

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Tom stands up from the bullshittin' table and pours Pappy a cup. ....

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“Sit down old man I'll get yer coffee."....

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"Thankya son." Pappy lowers himself into the chair with a grunt.....

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“Tell me whatya been up to Pappy. We ain't seen yer ass in six months."....

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"I been upta that gawd-damn Tyler, stayin' with ma daughter. I'm home now. Them gawd-damn VA doctors ain't worth a shit.” ....

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He tucks a wad of tobacco into his lower lip and spits into an empty styrofoam cup. Juice escapes the wrinkled corners of his mouth and he wipes it from his scruffy chin with the back of his hand, wipes his hand on his spit-stained jeans.....

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"Well," Tom asks, "is your son still robbin' ya blind, or did the Pen straighten him out?"....

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"Aw hell naw. He stole everything I got. Him an' that whore of his, took it all. I left 'em there so's they could take care of his mama. Little bastard. I done called the law. They gonna come ta call this afternoon."....

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"Fuck that," Tom says, "shoot that little dope-fiend sonuvabitch."....

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"I done kilt one man and buried him up on my place. One more cain't hurt. I'm ninety, what the hell they gonna do ta me?"....

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"That is true old man." Tom's belly shakes with laughter.....

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Pappy gets up and wobbles his way to the door. "It was good seein' ya'll. Gal, you take care a yerself. Tell Cheryl I said hello. I got ta take care of some bidness."....

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"I'll tell her Pappy. You be careful."....

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Pappy leaves, backs his car into the street without looking. A Budget Rental truck has to swerve to avoid him. They honk their horn, and Pappy shakes his fist at the driver, throws his head back and howls.