I looked down at his tag, and my heart skipped a beat. Di Paglio. He was the one. The one who had come to school that afternoon. With the dog.
“Bubba,” I murmured.
A faint smile turned up on his lips. “You know my furry partner.”
I nodded.
“You’ve seen me before. At school maybe.”
I nodded and sniffled.
“See. I’m the good guys. I’m on your side. Talk to me.”
I sighed heavily and chewed on my lip some more. Swung my legs.
“Derek, look, kid, I know your dad had to go up north for a job. I know your mom had to be sent away for a while. That’s a rotten deck you’re holding right now, but you never know, life might deal you a royal flush someday. Now talk to me ‘fore the doctor comes back in here.” He smiled. “Hit me with the ugliest thing you got floatin’ around in that head of yours.”
