I was nursing yet another hangover. Jess, on the other hand, showed no signs of a hangover as she flitted around on tiptoe, conjuring up several varieties of greasy food for me.“How is it that you never get drunk or hungover?” I asked. My head felt ready to pop off.She gazed at me over her shoulder. “Like I’ve said: practice.”“You aren’t that much older, Jess.”“No, but I started drinking years ago.” She turned back to the stove and I couldn’t see her face. It was the first time I had heard this.“When did you start?” I was curious, and Jess laughed and then flipped some bacon over in the pan.“You make it sound like I have a problem,” she said. “You’re the one looking like crap.”“Thanks.” I slurped my coffee angrily. “But when did you take your first drink?”“Let’s see.” She paused and stirred the spluttering hash browns. “I think when I was nine. But I would just sip drinks.”“When did you start consuming your own?”“Really, Paige!
