"Oh yeah? You didn't sound like that three weeks ago. I talked to her last week; she came in here askin' about you. She told me all about the things you was talkin' about with her, an' how you douched her almost right away after that night, an' I know Chubby had a hand in it, 'cause I told him you was runnin' with her, an' I saw that look on his face, and I knew that cocksucker was gonna pull a number on you to fuck things up, and I swear to you, Stones, I could just hear him. 'You know I love you like my own kid, Stony,' am I right? An' you let him jerk you off, an' you blew a fine, together lady. I didn't know how together she was 'cause I never talked to her until she came in here and I'm an asshole for believin' all the trash that goes down about her, but you knew better, you bastard, an' you fuckin' blew it right out your ass 'cause a your goddamn family. An' I'll tell you somethin' else. It's more than Chubby, you dumped her 'cause she was talkin' straight to you just like I am now and you didn't want to hear that 'cause it scared the shit out of you." Butler slammed his fist down on the counter and shook his finger in Stony's face. "You goddamn phony, you're talkin' about love and takin' care a people, an' you stepped all over her 'cause she cared about you enough to talk straight life. Well, sucker, I'll tell you somethin' else, I ain't waitin' to get stepped on just 'cause I care about you. You don't do that hospital number, an' it's all over between us—an' that's the God's honest truth. 'Cause I don't dig little niggers in wheelchairs, an' I don't want 'em for friends, an' I ain't sittin' by an' watchin' you turn into one. 'Cause that's what you were that night when you eighty-sixed Annette. You were nothin' but a little nigger in a wheelchair, an' the more you hang aroun' that family a yours the more you gonna be like that. See, Stony, I know you goof on the store, an' maybe I don't have that much in the brains department, but at least I got the fuckin' heart to go and get what I want outta life. An' I don't wanna be around people who can't cut it. You hear me? An' that includes you! An' I don't wanna hear any a this shit about all the goddamn pain in your family an' blah blah blah. You just worry about your own goddamn pain." Butler was red-faced. He pulled up the bottle and took a slug.

"Hey lissen, you hard-on, don't gimme no ultimatums. I told you these are just the fuckin' thoughts in my head. I said I was gonna do the hospital." Stony waved his arms around his head as he yelled, but there was a trace of hesitation in his voice. "I don't understand you, Butler. I come in here as a friend, I bring champagne. Whatta you, some kinda hot shit now you got a pissant store?" Stony grabbed the Cold Duck and slapped the cork into the bottle. "I'll fuckin' know better next time before I pour out my heart to any friends!" Holding the bottle by the neck he strode to the door and pulled on the doorknob.