Cracks

19.10 Linda West

Spring 1998, The Rattlesnake

The game was long time over, and most guests had gone home already.

But Linda had come to like the Whiskey in this bar. She had switched from the mix to pure a while ago.

Frank found her last question very amusing.

"Oh god, no!", he laughed. "Diana's my sister!"

Linda made a puzzled face.

"Well, half-sister", he explained. " I met Diana back then in Myshuno, and she followed me around, so I brought her home. And then I saw my dad there."

He fell quiet for a while.

"What happened?", Linda asked. She was curious.

"Oh. Not much", he turned back to her, and smiled again. "He actually did recognize me. But then he kept going on how he never wanted me, and what a lying, cheating whore my mother was. He kinda had a point there, though."

Linda suddenly felt bad for asking.
"Hey, stop making that face", Frank said. "Why don't you tell me about your parents?"

"Oh... they're dead", Linda said, glad that he wanted to switch the subject.

She wasn't so glad anymore when she saw his face fall. "I'm sorry", he said.

"Oh - don't be, it's okay!", she desperately tried to make up for her awkwardness. "It happened already a while ago, I got used to it... I think..."

She saw a sceptical smile rise on his face, and sighed.
Did she manage?

"You're funny", Frank said.

"Frank, I wanna close! It's 8am!", the bartender interrupted them.

Linda hadn't noticed how the time had passed.

"Go home!", he continued.

"Uh, you're so rude, Tim!", Frank said, but he got up.

Linda sighed, and followed.

Outside the sun was up already. Linda remembered Mae living somewhere close, and decided she would pay her a visit.

"I have to go that way", she said. "Uhm.. and thank you for your company", she added politely, remembering her good manners.

Frank smiled. "My pleasure", he said, but Linda couldn't find any mockery this time.

He looked like he wanted to leave in the opposite direction already, but then he stopped.

"If you need a drink again, I'm usually here in the evenings", Frank said to her.