Twirling the key ring around his finger, Butler slowly came from behind the counter. "Hey, Stony? If you're not in the hospital Monday, don't come by here Monday night." Butler unlocked the door.

"No sweat, fucko." Stony stormed out into the street, trashing the Cold Duck in the nearest garbage can.

***

Stony drove out to Orchard Beach. He didn't know where else to go. He sat on the deserted boardwalk chain-smoking cigarettes and watching the waves. The beach was like a city dump with sand. A few old guys wandered around with headphones and long metal detectors combing the sand for lost change and cheap jewelry. A soft twilight wind made Stony shiver. Ever since Butler got that fucking store he sure was going through some changes. All bad. Uppity bastard. He didn't understand shit. Just like Annette. They probably started balling the minute she walked in the store. Albert'll sink or swim on his own. In a pig's ass. Stony thought of that day Albert came to the hospital. He didn't even know Albert could play Chinese checkers. Worry about your own goddamn pain ... Butler and his fucking ultimatums.

Stony got up, yawned and walked over to a concrete pillbox hot dog stand. Two Puerto Ricans in baggy white shirts were wiping down a grease-caked grill. "Gimme a frank."

"We're closed, man," one of them said, his back to Stony.

"You look open to me." Stony didn't give a shit.

"Register's closed."

Stony walked off, hands in his pockets, and ambled down the boardwalk. You know, you're killing me. Stony... You know you're killing your father... what a fucking crock. Chubby and Tommy probably got together and rehearsed. He remembered Chubby dueling those guys in the hallway. Albert did a better job in the rec room than himself. I think you're scared, Stony.

Stony imagined he was in a movie walking alone on the beach into the sun, a sad soundtrack playing in the background.

A lumpy, gray-haired lady trudged up the beach toward the boardwalk. She wore a dripping one-piece black swimsuit and a white rubber swimming cap—the turned-up flaps jutting out over her ears like airplane wings. She placed a thumb against one nostril and blew out a gob of snot. Stony shuddered, leaning over the rail. He covered his face with his hands and peeked at the sea through his fingers.

***

Tommy came home at two-thirty in the morning. He was shit-faced, beat and sated. Earlier in the evening he'd run into that chick who took on him and Chubby last month, grabbed her and a bottle of Canadian and rented a room for a few hours at the Saw Mill River Motel where he was a regular. She came four times, twice when he went down on her and twice when they fucked. He came in her mouth and he came in her box. Everybody went home happy.

Tommy sneaked past the kitchen where Marie sat chain-smoking and waiting. Three steps past the kitchen Tommy stopped and backtracked.