2113 North Wallace.
Kev, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, stood at his back door staring at the charred husk of the car outside the Gallagher's fence. He was confused.
Who torched it?
Perfectly good car, just burned to a crisp. What a waste.
After puzzling over it for a moment, Kev looked away and turned his gaze to Ethel, who was gardening in their own backyard.
Ethel was wearing a bonnet that looked completely out of place in modern Chicago but was perfectly suited for farm work. She was happily tending to her vegetables.
Seeing this, Kev couldn't help but worry.
Ethel had been here for almost a week, yet she hadn't made a single friend. All day long, she either did chores or tended to her garden. That wasn't right. A girl her age should be having fun, playing with other kids...
Worried, Kev stepped down into the yard and walked over to Ethel.
"Ethel, how about I take you to the basketball court? There are lots of kids your age there. You could make some friends," Kev said a bit awkwardly, as he wasn't great at this kind of thing.
Ethel smiled slightly and shook her head. "These vegetables need me to take care of them. I can't leave. If I leave, they'll die."
Kev looked at the vegetables and felt a headache coming on. "Then how about I take you out to have fun after you're done?"
Ethel thought for a moment, then nodded. "Okay."
Kev breathed a sigh of relief, smiled happily, and turned to go back inside.
Just then, Ethel gritted her teeth and called out to him, "Mr. Kevin..."
Kev immediately turned back to look at her. "What's wrong?"
"I have a request. I don't know if I can say it?" Ethel said timidly.
Kev flashed a goofy grin. "Of course you can. Go ahead."
"Mr. Kevin, I want my son Jonah to come visit me here. Is that okay?"
Haha.
Kev was dumbfounded. His goofy grin froze on his face. "What?"
Ethel lowered her head nervously. "My son Jonah. I hope you can help call the social worker and ask her to bring him here to see me. I miss him. Is that okay?"
It took a moment for Kev to process this. He asked in disbelief, "You have a son?"
Ethel nodded. "Yes, his name is Jonah."
Kev's brain was buzzing as he stared at Ethel. He couldn't wrap his head around it. He was completely shocked.
Kev: "...Ethel, tell me everything."
Ten minutes later.
"Jesus!" Having finally understood Ethel's situation before coming here, Kev felt his worldview shattering. He was full of shock and astonishment.
---
2114 North Wallace.
The cancer had spread further, and her condition was worsening. Peg was in pain all over. Staring at the various drugs on the coffee table, she found them incredibly tempting. She had a strong urge to end her life early; she didn't want to drag this out.
Nearby, Frank stared at the drugs with glowing eyes. He also found them very tempting and desperately wanted to get his hands on them.
"Mom, do you want me to give you a bath?" Before long, driven by his desire for the drugs, Frank eagerly offered.
Peg's eyes lit up with anger as they landed on Frank. Then, her gaze shifted and landed on a broom.
Peg didn't waste a second. Enduring the pain, she stood up, took the broom, walked step by step over to Frank, and swung it down on him.
Frank, who had been resting his eyes, jolted awake as he was hit. He immediately opened his eyes, dodging and yelling, "Mom! What are you doing? Are you crazy?!"
Peg didn't respond. She just kept swinging!
Frank rolled onto the floor, panicking. "You crazy old hag! What is wrong with you??"
Frank scrambled to his feet, flailing.
The next second, Frank didn't hesitate. He grabbed all the drugs from the coffee table and bolted for the back door. "You're insane! Just rot here and die! I'm done serving you!!"
Frank rushed out of the house into the backyard, cursing as he went. "Crazy bitch! I hope you rot in there..."
In the neighbor's backyard, Kev and Ethel clearly saw this scene and heard Frank's curses.
Frank also spotted Kev and Ethel. He tossed his long hair back and grinned, looking very pleased with himself.
Frank kept cursing as he walked away briskly.
After laughing, Frank headed straight for the Alibi.
So that's how it is.
Watching Frank go, Kev shook his head, feeling a deep sadness.
Ethel was only thirteen.
"Jesus."
---
Dex Restaurant.
Bianca got off work early today. She walked into the kitchen feeling a little nervous and uneasy.
Dexter was busy making dinner. Seeing Bianca, he smiled immediately. "Good evening, Ms. Green."
Bianca looked at Dexter, gritted her teeth, and became even more nervous. "Good evening..."
"What's wrong? Did you get into trouble?" Bianca's behavior was amusing, so Dexter teased her.
Bianca shook her head repeatedly. "No, how could I..."
"Then what's the situation? Spit it out," Dexter was actually curious.
Bianca was silent for a few seconds, taking a quiet deep breath. Then, slightly turning her head away to avoid Dexter's gaze, she said, "I just told my parents about having dinner together tomorrow night... at our place. Is that okay?"
"Is that it?" Dexter was incredibly amused.
Bianca pursed her lips and nodded vigorously. Then she braced herself and added, "My sister might come too..."
"Your sister should be as pretty as you, right?" Dexter couldn't help teasing.
"???" Hearing this, Bianca blinked subconsciously and glared at Dexter, doubting her ears. "What did you say?"
"Hehe, you heard wrong. I didn't say anything," Dexter played dumb with a grin.
Bianca wasn't easily fooled. She glared instantly, unhappy. "My sister has kids! What is going on in that head of yours!"
Haha.
Can't joke about MILFs, apparently.
Dexter smiled slyly and didn't respond.
Seeing Dexter's reaction, Bianca—who knew him quite well by now—was certain he was definitely thinking improper thoughts. She got angry. "Dexter!!"
"Alright, alright, just teasing you. Don't get mad," Dexter placated her.
---
Meanwhile.
2114 North Wallace.
Frank pushed Peg into the bathroom. Then, making up an excuse, he rushed back to the living room, eagerly opened the pill bottles, poured out a few pills from each, swallowed a handful in one go, and hid the rest in his pocket.
Ahhh~~~
Swallowing the drugs, Frank grinned brilliantly and let out a long sigh of relief.
Satisfying!
Accompanied by this feeling of euphoria, Frank lay down on the sofa, too lazy to move a muscle.
Peg waited in the bathroom for a while. When Frank didn't return, she got angry. "Frank! Where the fck are you?"
Frank heard her but didn't make a sound, just enjoying his high.
Peg called out a few more times without getting a response. Her old face twisted in anger. She stopped yelling, gritted her teeth, and turned her wheelchair to move out.
Before long, Peg saw Frank lying on the sofa, clearly high. She realized what he had done.
There was nothing she could do.
Peg couldn't move easily.
---
Nightfall.