Американские боги

           Theylostthehouse—hadaniceplacedownonDanielsRoad.Shemovedintotheapartments.Helefttown.Camebackeveryfewmonthstomakeeverybodymiserable.

           "Thiswentonforafewyears.He’dcomeback,spendmoneyonthekids,leaveMargieintears.Mostofusjuststartedwishinghe’dnevercomebackatall.HismomandpophadmovedtoFloridawhentheyretired,saidtheycouldn’ttakeanotherWisconsinwinter.Solastyearhecameout,saidhewantedtotaketheboystoFloridaforChristmas.Margiesaidnotahope,toldhimtogetlost.Itgotprettyunpleasant—atonepointIhadtogooverthere.Domesticdispute.BythetimeIgotthereDarrenwasstandinginthefrontyardshoutingstuff,theboyswerebarelyholdingittogether,Margiewascrying.

           "ItoldDarrenhewasshapingupforanightinthecells.Ithoughtforamomenthewasgoingtohitme,buthewassoberenoughnottodothat.Igavehimaridedowntothetrailerparksouthoftown,toldhimtoshapeup.Thathe’dhurtherenough…Nextdayhelefttown.""Twoweekslater,Sandyvanished.Didn’tgetontotheschoolbus.Toldhisbestfriendthathe’dbeseeinghisdadsoon,thatDarrenwasbringinghimaspeciallycoolpresenttomakeupforhavingmissedChristmasinFlorida.Nobody’sseenhimsince.Non-custodialkidnappingsarethehardest.It’stoughtofindakidwhodoesn’twanttobefound,y’see?"

           Shadowsaidthathedid.Hesawsomethingelseaswell.