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had years of Mystery Pissers； with no one quite neutralizing what had been tagged。
Down the hall was a small person hunched in a wheel…chair。 At first I thought it was a child；
but as we approached； I could see it was a woman。
She had almost no hair； and as she gave my dad a toothless smile； she grabbed his hand
and spoke。
My heart bottomed out。 The sounds she made were choked and lost on her tongue。 Nothing
she said was intelligible； yet she looked at my father
with such intensity—like of course he understood what she was saying。
To my plete surprise； he said； “You're absolutely right； Mabel。 It is today。 Which is why
I'm here。” He held up the grocery sack and whispered；
“I've brought him a little gift。”
“Gwa…aaal；” she said。 “How'd you know？”
She gurgled at him until he patted her hand and said； “I'm much too predictable； I'm afraid。
But he enjoys them； and…” He noticed her gaze shift
in my direction。
“Hoo haa；” she said。
“This is my daughter； Julianna。 Julianna； I'd like you to meet the extraordinary Miss Mabel。
She can remember everyone's birthday； and she has a
real passion for strawberry milkshakes。”
I managed a smile and whispered； “Nice to meet you；” but all I got in return was a suspicious
scowl。
“Well； we're off to David's；” my father said； then shook the bag。 “Don't spill the beans if he
happens by。”
I followed him to a bedroom doorway； where he stopped and called； “David？ David； it's
Robert。”
A man appeared at the door。 A man I would never have picked out as my father's brother。 He
was stocky； with thick brown glasses； and his face
looked puffy and pale。 But he threw
