She sent me a letter, he said. Written in red ink. Signed with hearts and arrows. Said she was somewhere out East. Wanted to know if I would come join her. Haven’t written back to her yet. The return address was a town in New York, he lit a cigarette. I looked it up. Way up there by Syracuse.

What’s she doing up there?

Said she was dancing at a club. She always wanted to do that. Have men looking at her. Giving her money for shaking her ass.

She mention the kids?

Nope. She did not. I’ll bet her mom’s taking care of them, he sipped on coffee. George Jones was playing in the background. A waitress walked by.

You thinking about going out there to see her? Maybe try to get back together with her? he shook his head.

That girl’s trouble. She has been ever since high school. Making up wild stories. Always running away, he laughed. She sent me pictures. Some naked, some not. Still looks good.

Don’t you want to see your kids? he shook his head. What kind of a dad doesn’t want to see his kids?

The kind that’s given up. I can barely take care of myself. How am I going to take care of kids? Sides, they’d probably break my heart too, he blew out white smoke. Everything I always wanted in a family is gone. I should’ve known better. Known what she was capable of. She’s very good at leaving. Very good.