until all the cigarettes were gone. “I meant that I’d stop as soon as the present supply ran out,” he explained to Andy. “I couldn’t leave them about the place. There will be no more after this, I promise.” In the days that followed, Andy felt stronger and, most important of all, was happy to be with his dad, who would soon get a proper job, and then their lives would be normal; it was simply a matter of time. When he inspected himself in the bathroom mirror, though it was covered in mildew and the light was small and dim, he saw that the bruises were just about gone from his face. His eyes seemed brighter. But his dark hair, unbrushed and uncombed, was longer and wilder. He didn’t look too clean. In Vancouver they’d had three bathrooms with plenty of hot water and shampoo and hair conditioner and body lotion and he could shower whenever he wanted. But here… There was also the problem of his soiled socks and underwear. He had only the one set and needed extras badly. His mother and Clay were not here to nag him.
