[Mike's silent for a few moments, looking down at the ugly tiles and the detergent stains, focusing on his own see-through toes instead of the aching honesty in Dustin's voice. He wants to sit and talk and let Dustin's presence unwind the knot of horror in his chest, the way it has so many times before, but part of him is afraid of what will come out. He's weighed down by so many horrible things that he doesn't feel ready to share, not on Dustin's first day. But the thing is, there are four more people at home who know every awful truth, and one of them is bound to slip up. Burden Dustin with the parade of horrors, out Mike as a rotten liar.
He sits down, his tangle of limbs still an inch off the floor.]
We get a lot of crank calls. There probably wasn't a customer.
no subject
He sits down, his tangle of limbs still an inch off the floor.]
We get a lot of crank calls. There probably wasn't a customer.