A Way to Get By by T. Torrest

chair, his long legs stretched out toward the railing, crossed at the ankles. “But now that you mention it…”
       My question had inadvertently set him up with an opening to pry into the subject of my failed marriage. I wasn’t much looking forward to discussing it. “Jesus Christ.”
       “Nope. Just your old pal Anthony.”
       “Are you really going to make me talk about this?”
       With the cigar clamped between his teeth, Tony clasped his fingers behind his head. “Isn’t that what we’re supposed to do?”
       “I was kind of hoping the night would just sort of stay on the course we’ve been following.”
       “I know you did.” He gave a shrug and added, “I think all four of us are trying to avoid talking about it. Maybe it’s like a psychological thing, trying to hold onto the last moments of our foursome.”
       “Before it all gets blown apart?”
       “Something like that.”
       I took an inhale off my cigar and ran my hands through my hair. My next words came out amidst a cloud of smoke. “Kaboom, dickhead.”
     
     
     
     

CHAPTER 10
    You’re My Home
     
     
    EDDIE
    Tuesday, December 2
    1969
     
     
    T here was no way we could go to school that day.
       After the scene that had played out at Brenda’s house the night before, we were both drained. So, we hashed a plan with Tony and Ginny for the four of us cut class and meet at The Parkway Diner to try and sort it all out.
       The thing was, the Vietnam draft lottery was televised last night. Me and Anthony weren’t old enough yet for it to affect us, but Bren’s older brother fell right into the pool of potential draftees. The nerves were running pretty high in the Rinetti household, so I’d gone over to lend my emotional support. I thought I was in for an entire night of hand-wringing but as it turned out, the Rinettis’ worst fears were confirmed before the broadcast had barely begun; April twenty-fourth was pulled on the second pick.
       The second .
       A dead pall hung over the room for a solid minute. Finally, Bobby broke the silence when he jibed, “Happy birthday to me.”
       Mrs. Rinetti immediately put her face in her hands and cried inconsolably. Her wailing was so loud the entire neighborhood must have heard it. Mr. Rinetti slid across the plastic-covered couch and put his arms around his wife. “Well, that’s it, then. I’ll put in for that transfer to Vancouver.”
       My stomach dropped as Bren’s eyes met mine in a panic. She stopped chewing her nail to ask her father incredulously, “Canada? Daddy, you can’t be serious!”
       Mr. Rinetti stood, his booming voice bouncing off the walls. “I am one-hundred-percent serious and don’t you dare question my decisions ever again, young lady!”
       Bren looked appropriately chastened but her outburst had prompted her brother to take up the argument. A two-hour long debate ensued regarding the merits for and against leaving the country. Mr. and Mrs. Rinetti were dead-set on expatriating; Bobby offered his half-assed arguments against it. I was surprised to see his willingness to stick around and take his chances. If it were me, I’d have already been across the border.
       We’d spent the bulk of our breakfast filling our friends in on the scene that went down the night before, and Tony laughed when I got to that part of the story . “So what now?” he asked a bit more seriously, tapping his straw against the bottom of his Coke.
       Bren took over from there. “Well, now I guess we’re moving to Canada. We could hold off until Bobby gets called up for his induction but my parents aren’t willing to wait around for that. They’re already packing up the house.”
       “What a drag,” Ginny sighed. “You don’t even like the guy and now your whole life is going to be turned upside down because of him.”  
       “Yes, he’s an asshole but that doesn’t mean I want to see him dead!”
       “That’s not