Ronnie . . . ?"Not me," he said roughly. "Run along if you want to. I'm staying."Grace sank back into her chair. The others said nothing."Party-pooper," Bending said. "Won't drink. Won't smoke. Do you the world of good, dearie.""You drink and smoke enough for both of us," his wife snapped at him."Hey-hey!" Luther Empt said happily. "A family fight! What every party should have.""Luther, shut up," his wife said."Don't tell me to shut up," he snarled at her. "It's my fucking home."Insults spread like yawns, one to another."I wish I had a fucking home," Jane Holloway said, "but it isn't. Maybe Bill will get it up for Christmas.""Since when have I been your only source?" he asked her."Maybe Bill gives at the office," Bending said."And maybe shrimp can fly," Luther said. "Bill, you better try some dark meat and change your luck.""I changed my luck," he said, "when I married Jane.""I made a man out of you," she told him, "and you've never forgiven me for it.""Jane," Luther said, "you better try Teresa's beauty parlor.
