Even though there is a smoky storm rolling in from low over the ocean, Jesse unlatches and buzzes down the top on the ancient, silver-blue Cadillac Eldorado—the Boss Hog. She needs to get some air into the situation. She’s feeling spontaneously combustible, her first-line reaction to Anthony.He’s sitting in the other wide bucket seat, emoting No Problem. Jesse knows this posture is defensive deep cover for some roiling tumble of nervousness and fear and self-doubt. She has read books and books on dealing with the difficult adolescent and knows this is a critical moment when she should help him out, say something maternal and supportive. The best she can come up with, though, is, “You really fucked up this time.”He reaches over with his good hand to turn on the radio. Wilson Phillips joins them from the dashboard. These girls are having troubles of their own. They’re pleading in wiretight harmony to make someone—baby, baby—understand he’s got to release them. Jesse has two simultaneous lines of conversation with Anthony.
