Mark was sitting having coffee at his kitchen table in his modern styled 3rd floor flat. He looked tired yet still managed a smile.

His Asian girlfriend answered the door, allowing me entrance.

“My apologies for dropping by so early.” I spoke while I approached him. He checked his watch.

“No problem. It’s after 9. How did you sleep?”

“I’m guessing about as good as you.”

“Al was in rare fine form last night… I only hear it if I sit here. In the bedroom; nothing.”

“Lucky you. I could hear it just fine from 3a.m. on… none of my business, but you guys don’t talk?”

“He’s my father. Nothing more. He left when I was 4. Me and my Mom and my little sister. He sold his part of his auto body business for $750,000.00 and showed up here 25 years later… broke and needing a place to stay. I’m not gonna see him homeless; but I don’t have much time for his brand of bullshit.”

“I get it… I don’t know if I can deal with Al for another day. I need sleep. I have to go to work. I’m just beat for sleep.”

After my work shift, I returned to find Al watching television. He seemed glad to see me.

“I’m going to bed. Didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Strange bed.” Al offered.

“Yeah, that’s it.” I answered and slept through to Sunday morning without incident.

Al was home, and after I showered, I decided to go digging.

“So you and your son Mark don’t get along?

At first, there was just silence and a distant glare. Then he confessed. It appeared that it had been some time since Al had anyone to talk to…

“I was fucking the babysitter when Mark’s mother came home unexpectedly… She was 14 and sweet! She hit me over the head with a cast iron frying pan. I saw fucking stars man! It was just like in the cartoons!”

I sat in silence, unable to contain my grin. Al continued with no persuasion.

“She was the only woman I couldn’t control.” He shook his head. “I loved that woman.”

Later in the afternoon, Mark filled in the rest of the story…