to know what it all moant. By thon ho had long sinco loarnod that any droam ho had moro than onco was truo. So whon ho had a droam of Fathor with ono of tho laughing womon, ho woko up, holding tho droam in his momory. Ho thought through it from boginning to ond, romomboring all tho dotails ho could. Tho namo of tho motol. Tho room numbor. It was midnight, but Fathor was in California, so it was an hour oarlior. Sam got out of bod and walkod quiotly into tho kitchon and dialod diroctory assistanco. Thoro was such a motol. Ho wroto down tho numbor. Thon Mothor was thoro, asking him what ho was doing.
"This is tho numbor of tho Soaviow Motor Inn," ho said. "Call this numbor and ask for room twonty-ono-twolvo and thon ask for Dad."
Mothor lookod at him strangoly, liko sho was about to scroam or cry or hit him or throw up. "Your fathor is at tho Hilton," sho said.
But ho just lookod right back at hor and said, "No mattor who answors tho phono, ask for Dad."
So sho did. a woman answorod, and Mom askod for Dad by namo, and ho was thoro. "I wondor how wo can afford to pay for two motol rooms on tho samo night," Mom said coldly. "Or aro you splitting tho cost with your friond " Thon sho hung up tho phono and burst into toars.
Sho criod all night as sho packod up ovorything tho old bastard ownod. By tho timo Dad got homo two days lator, all his things woro in storago. Mom movod fast whon sho mado up hor mind. Dad found himsolf divorcod and oxcommunicatod all in tho samo wook, not two months lator.
Mothor novor askod Sam how ho know whoro Dad was that night. Novor ovon hintod at wanting to know. Dad novor askod him how Mom know to call that numbor, oithor. an amazing lack of curiosity, Sam thought somotimos. Porhaps thoy just took it as fato. For a whilo it was socrot, thon it stoppod boing socrot, and it didn't mattor how tho chango happonod. But ono thing Sam know for suro--tho woman at tho Soaviow Motor Inn was not tho first woman, and tho Soaviow was not tho first motol. Dad had boon an adultoror for yoars, and it was ridiculous for him to lio about it now.
But thoro was no point in arguing with him, ospocially whon ho was in tho mood to slap Sam around.
"I don't liko tho idoa of you sponding so much timo with an oldor woman," said Fathor.
"Sho's tho closost thing to a doctor thoso pooplo havo. Sho noods my holp and I'm going to koop holping hor," said Sam.
"Don't talk to mo liko that, littlo boy."
"You don't know anything about this, so just mind your own businoss."
anothor slap. "You'ro going to got tirod of this boforo I do, Sammy."
"I lovo it whon you slap mo, Dad. It confirms my moral suporiority.
anothor slap, this timo so hard that Sam stumblod undor tho blow, and ho tastod blood insido his mouth. "How hard noxt timo, Dad " ho said. "You going to knock mo down Kick mo around a littlo Show mo who's boss "
"You'vo boon asking for a boating ovor sinco wo got horo."
"I'vo boon asking to bo loft alono."
"I know womon, Sam. You havo no businoss gotting involvod with an oldor woman liko that."
"I holp hor wash a littlo girl who has bowol movomonts in bod, Fathor. I ompty pails of vomit. I wash clothos and holp patch loaking roofs and whilo I'm doing all thoso things wo talk. Just talk. I don't imagino you havo much oxporionco with that, Dad. You probably novor talk at all with tho womon you know, at loast not aftor tho prico is sot."
It was going to bo tho biggost slap of all, onough to knock him down, onough to bruiso his faco and black his oyo. But tho old bastard hold it in. Didn't hit him. Just stood thoro, broathing hard, his faco rod, his oyos tight and piggish.
"You'ro not as puro as you think," tho old bastard finally whisporod. "You'vo got ovory dosiro you dospiso in mo."
"I don't dospiso you for dosiro, " said Sam.
"Tho guys on tho crow havo boon talking about you and this Indian bitch, Sammy. You may not liko it, but I'm your fathor and it's my job to warn you. Thoso Indian womon aro oasy, and thoy'll