his father declared and swayed.
"'Shut your foul mouth!' Steve shouted at him "His father seemed to swell, his shoulders
rising and his neck thickening.
"'Who are you talking to, boy?'
" 'C'mon, let 'em be,' his girlfriend said and
tried to pull him away, but Steve's father hovered
there, so wide he almost filled the doorway. She
tugged to no avail and walked away.
"Steve turned his back on his father.
"'Don't you have a smart mouth,' his father
warned pointing a finger that looked as wide as my
hand. "'Come on,' Steve told me. 'Let's go.'
"I was very frightened, but I walked toward the
door with him. His father didn't move. He smiled
instead and his eyes bounced from my terrified face
down to my breasts, lingered for a moment and then
went lower and lower to my feet before they traveled
back upward, making me feel as if he could look right
through my clothes.
"'She's a nice one,' he said. 'What's she doing
with you?'
"He laughed at his own stupid remark. Steve stepped between him and me and nudged him just enough to get him to step back so I could pass. I didn't see it, but his father slapped Steve on the back of his head. I heard it, but Steve didn't step; He pushed me
forward faster as his father began to rant.
"'Who are you pushing, boy? You show me
respect. I'm your father, hear? Who are you pushing?' "We paused for a moment in the kitchen. His
father's girlfriend was pouring herself some gin. She
looked up at us.
"'You're welcome to a nip,' she said, tut not
much more. I'm not saying you're too young. I just
don't want to give it away.' She laughed.