“Yeah. A purple one.”
I snorta laugh. “I’ll see if I can get you one in that color,man.”
“See if they’ve got any unicorns, too. Check in the back.” Headds.
Ellie’sshoulders are vibrating, but she’s trying to keep a straightface.
“You’re so cooked, man.” I chuckle.
“I dunno how to cook. Y’all think mama’ll teach me.” Gunnersays.
“I could teach you.” Ellie offers, but I notice that she endsthat sentence with a snort, as she tries to hold back achuckle.
“Na, you’re no good.” Gunner waves with his good hand.“Maverick here says that you suck.”
I lift afinger. “At cooking.” A wink.
Elliesmirks, but her eyes lose all mirth. “Well, maybe Maverick canteach you to cook then, if he thinks he can trump mycooking.”
“I’ll get mama to teach me.” Gunner relents. “I want to learnso my kids won’t starve.”
I sit uphigher in my seat. “You know something we don’t know,partner?”
“I know lots of things that you don’t know.” Gunner answers,matter-of-factly.
“You got a kid along the way or something, man?” Iask.
Ellieshoots a look over at me. And I widen my eyes, shaking my head, asif to say, ‘hell if I know’. Then I shrug.
“Mama would be proud of me if I did.” He answers honestly.“Prouder than when she sees my grades.”
SinceGunner is going off on all tangents, I just let him be. “What’s upwith your grades, my man?”
“I quit school. Don’t tell mama.”
“I think she knows already, man.”
“Did you tell her?”
“No, but I think we all figured it out, pal. It doesn’t take arocket scientist to figure it out.”
“Just don’t you worry, Gunner.” Ellie says, sliding herfingers through his hair again. “We’ll get it all figured out onceyour arm is better.”
“Okay.” Gunner sighs. “Tell daddy I’m sorry.”
My gazegoes to the floor. I almost don’t have the heart to remind him.“Daddy’s gone, my friend. Long gone.”
Ellieregards both me and Gunner with remorse. Her look at me isapologetic. Then she looks deep into Gunner’s slitted eyes. “Youjust don’t worry about a think, baby. We’ll take good care of you,okay?”
“But daddy’s my best friend.” Gunner sobs, and it tears myheart out. Then I remember it wasn’t long after daddy died that heleft for college. It’s almost like he ran.
“Your daddy would be real proud of you, sugar.” Ellie states.“Just you worry about getting better, okay?”
Gunner’shead lolls. “Okay.” Then he rests his head against the pillow andis out.
Elliescratches her head and looks at me. “I’m sorry about your daddy. Ididn’t know.”
“It’s okay, but thanks all the same.”
