He put his blackened hands up. “I can’t hear it. I can’t hear it right now. This is my work. Your mother’s already bugging the hell out of me. Sure half the time the phone rings, it’s her. Then all this sneaking around, leaving crazy notes on my truck.”

“Notes?”

“Dragging your sister in here, too. Parading her around.”

“I want to talk to you about her. She’s worse, Telly. She made me—”

He took two steps toward me. Unfriendly steps. “You want to see me, you got to get it arranged. Proper, like. Through the channels. I’m done with her, you got that?”

“What channels? Through Gloria?”

“I don’t know. You got to figure it out.”

I picked up the wrenches. Placed them back on the trolley. “But Gloria said you don’t go to the phone when she calls.”

“Yeah, well, she knows right where I am. Every single day I’m at the same old spot.”

“So she should come out here?”

Telly took a breath and blew it out. “Listen, buddy. Listen.” A second breath, deeper and slower. “Things are real messed up right now. I mean, she’s trying every angle. I shouldn’t be getting frustrated at you.” He put his hand on my shoulder, leaned his head down closer. “You’re my boy, right? But I just don’t know which way to turn.”

I stared down at the wrenches. Blinked fast.

“If your mother doesn’t stop I’m going to get myself fired. And then where will I be? But I’ll get it all straightened out. You don’t got to worry about it. You understand?”

“Yes,” I said. But I didn’t.

“Dian’s a good woman, Row, but you know, I need to make sure things are strong before I bring you and your sister into it. We’re talking about getting a bigger place. We are. But it all takes time. You got to trust me.”

One by one I lined up the wrenches, wanting to tell him that none of what he said made sense. If he wanted to take us, he could. But he hadn’t called once. Hadn’t come over once since he left. He wouldn’t even let me say a single word.

“I’m not mad at you, Row. I’m not. Just keep your little visit to yourself. Can you do that?”

“Yeah.”

“Promise me, Row. It’ll only complicate things. And I don’t want to hear from her about it.”

“Okay,” I said. I rubbed my eyes hard. Then I turned and walked away. Went to the bus stop. Waited in the sunshine for over an hour until the next bus arrived. Then another hour of inhaling exhaust, trying not to vomit as the bus bounced and jerked and drove all over before it reached Little Sliding. Stopped at the very top of Pinchkiss Circle.