Ouch, yeah maybe don't do that to him on my account.

[ Granted, he really wanted Monarch to like Harley. It was the first time he was flutter patted with someone who wasn't taken and seemed to return his feelings. Boy's first real love.

He looked over again at her with almost light offense.]

I tried that too! I can prove it too, I have the return to sender letters upstairs, I haven't tossed them yet. Felt wrong too. But most of her post cards had no return address, and no one told me until we spoke last that her apartment building was blown up.

[ Another drag from the cigarette as he shook his head amused. ]

You wanted me to be even more picked on as a kid, didn't you? [ A teasing tone. ] Garrett was bad enough, and only my mom calls me that, and only when I've seriously fucked up.

[ That's how he knew he was in deep trouble as a kid.]