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his father declared and swayed.

"'Shut your foul mouth!' Steve shouted at him "His father seemed to swell, his shoulders

rising and his neck thickening.

"'Who are you talking to, boy?'

" 'C'mon, let 'em be,' his girlfriend said and

tried to pull him away, but Steve's father hovered

there, so wide he almost filled the doorway. She

tugged to no avail and walked away.

"Steve turned his back on his father.

"'Don't you have a smart mouth,' his father

warned pointing a finger that looked as wide as my

hand. "'Come on,' Steve told me. 'Let's go.'

"I was very frightened, but I walked toward the

door with him. His father didn't move. He smiled

instead and his eyes bounced from my terrified face

down to my breasts, lingered for a moment and then

went lower and lower to my feet before they traveled

back upward, making me feel as if he could look right

through my clothes.

"'She's a nice one,' he said. 'What's she doing

with you?'

"He laughed at his own stupid remark. Steve stepped between him and me and nudged him just enough to get him to step back so I could pass. I didn't see it, but his father slapped Steve on the back of his head. I heard it, but Steve didn't step; He pushed me

forward faster as his father began to rant.

"'Who are you pushing, boy? You show me

respect. I'm your father, hear? Who are you pushing?' "We paused for a moment in the kitchen. His

father's girlfriend was pouring herself some gin. She

looked up at us.

"'You're welcome to a nip,' she said, tut not

much more. I'm not saying you're too young. I just

don't want to give it away.' She laughed.