For a brief moment he didn’t remember where he was, but the laughter of children reminded him of home. A smile stretched his sore lips, the pain rousing him completely as the laughter had failed to do. He sat up, his head pounding and remembering vividly the events of the night before.Scotty, Andrea, and Janet were on the floor in front of the TV, laughing at the cartoon animals that filled the screen. Janet saw him and came toward the couch.“See, Jared? See that rabbit? He’s sooo funny.”Jared watched for a moment. “He sure is, honey.”Janet stared at him with the curiosity of a child. “What happened to your face?”“I ran into some men in the hall,” Jared said, not wanting to lie, but not wanting to tell her about the fight.“You should watch where you’re going.” Her eyes wandered back to the TV.“That I should,” Jared agreed. He was grateful at least that he had come across the men in the hall instead of in his room, where they could have beaten him without interruption.“How come you and Cassi don’t sleep together?”
