AmyStrange & the Criminal
(Part 1: the Escape)
                              Copyright © 2019 by David P. Ayotte
THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR CHILDREN
[ TABLE OF CONTENTS ]
CHAPTER 3: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22nd

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     She got a couple hours sleep, be- 
fore Barry came by to see how everyone 
was surviving. He laughed at our little
arrangement in the living room, and    
then went in to see Fishy.             
     “I was scared for a little while,"
Beth told him, "but even though it was 
a little high, it remained steady, and 
now he’s back down to normal.”         
     They talked for a few minutes     
while I made coffee. I knew it was a   
waste of time, because I also knew what
was coming, but it was like a tradition
by now.                                
     I filled three cups, put them on a
tray, and carried them into the bed-   
room. Barry was thanking Beth for her  
help, and then tried to give her money.
     That’s how it always started, be- 
cause that’s when she’d tell him to get
the fuck out of the house, and he’d    
always laugh right back at her.        
     I put the tray down, grabbed my   
coffee, and went to wait near the back 
door. They never lasted long, but what 
surprised me was that Barry never swore
except at the end of one of these      
arguments.                             
     He’d tell her he could afford it, 
and she’d tell him he couldn’t, and    
back and forth they’d go, until he     
came steaming out of the room.         
     “That woman is just so fucking    
stubborn,” he’d say, and I’d agree with
him, just like every other fucking     
time.                                  
     He went outside to check on Grunt 
again. I followed, and except for his  
weight, Barry told me, “He’s as fit as 
a fiddle, and will probably outlive us 
all.”                                  
     “Ever since we put him out here   
with his family, he’s been eating like 
a little pig,” I said, and then apolo- 
gized to Arnold and his crew, “No in-  
sult intended.”                        
     Arnold snorkeled something back   
that sounded like, “Fuck you,” and     
Barry laughed, and I had to laugh too, 
because it was funny.                  
     On the way to his car, he promised
to come by Friday and pick up Fishy.   
     I thanked him again for what he   
did on TV, and he didn’t know what I   
was talking about.                     
     “Didn’t we already go through this
on Sunday?,” I asked, and then added,  
“You know, the stuff you said on TV    
last week.”                            
     “I mean, the less I know, the bet-
ter,” he explained, and then winked,   
“but you’re welcome anyway.”           



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CHAPTER 3: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22nd
[ TABLE OF CONTENTS ]

PART 1 IS FREE:                          
  You can copy and distribute it to any-  
one and everyone,  as long as it's dis-  
tributed for free* and in its entirety,**
including the COPYRIGHT PAGE.            

*This does not apply to AMAZON.COM, **or REVIEWS