the front room to be with her dad。
So I'm standing there； wishing I'd punched Garrett out in the library so Juli wouldn't stick me
in the same class as someone who makes retard
jokes； when my dad shows up and claps me on the shoulder。 “So。 How's the party； son？”
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Speak of the devil。 I wanted to whack his hand off my shoulder。
He leans out so he can see into the front room and says； “Hey； the dad cleans up pretty good；
doesn't he？”
I shrug away from him。 “Mr。 Baker's name is Robert； Dad。”
“Yeah； you know； I knew that。” He rubs his hands together and says； “I guess I ought to go in
and say hello。 ing？”
“Nah。 Mom probably needs my help。”
I didn't run off to the kitchen； though。 I stood there and watched Mr。 Baker shake my father's
hand。 And as they stood there pumping and smiling；
this weird feeling started ing over me again。 Not about Juli — about my father。 Standing
next to Mr。 Baker； he looked small。 Physically small。
And pared to the cut of Mr。 Baker's jaw； my dad's face looked kind of weaselly。
This is not the way you want to feel about your father。 When I was little； I'd always thought
that my dad was right about everything and that there
wasn't a man on earth he couldn't take。 But standing there looking in； I realized that Mr。
Baker could squash him like a bug。
Worse； though； was the way he was acting。 Watching m