To Die For Read Free Page A

that season, but he never signed up for a sport again, and we never discussed it.
    I should’ve known, that day on the ballpark, heading over to the abortion clinic. Frankie got on base all right. But what happened next was the real story. Next batter up hits a single, and Frankie’s an easy out at second. No way that kid was ever going to score in baseball or in life.
    The game’s rigged. Doesn’t everybody know that yet?

EARL STONE
    I REMEMBER C AROL AND myself bringing her home from the hospital, in this little pink dress and booties, and Carol saying to me, “You’ll be walking this little girl down the aisle someday.”
    “Who’s ever going to be good enough for her?” I said. I guess every father thinks that.
    Back when the kids were still in high school and junior high, even, we started putting money aside for their wedding day. Faye too, of course, although she hasn’t found Mr. Right yet. But you knew with Susie it was only a matter of time, and probably not a lot of time either. She isn’t the kind you’d ever want to see in some bargain basement gown either. Suzanne always went for quality.
    The things you think of, when the day actually comes. I mean, here you’ve been dreaming and planning for this moment, and now it’s finally there. You’re walking in the church and it’s like it was just yesterday she was up on that stage singing “High Hopes.” You remember the time she had scarlet fever and you stayed up with her all night, trying to bring the fever down by putting her in the tub every couple hours. Family trip to Washington, D.C. Her twirling her baton in the Fourth of July parade, and this friend of mine leaning over to me and saying, “Watch out for that daughter of yours, Earl. She’s going to be a heartbreaker.”
    She never gave us a minute’s worry. Never the drugs. Never the late nights staying up waiting for her to come home, and she’s past curfew. Only worry she gave us was that she pushed herself too hard. “Ease up a little, Susie,” we’d say. “It’s not the end of the world if you get a B. Nobody’s going to die if you don’t make captain of the cheering squad.” But of course, she always did make it. Every goal she set herself, she attained it.
    Do I need to tell you her mother bawled like a baby, watching her come down the aisle? It’s the day we’d looked forward to all our lives. I never felt such pride. And her, she’s got that ten-million-dollar smile. We never even needed to get her braces.
    As she gets to the pew where her mother’s standing, she turns to Carol and blows her a kiss. “Thanks, Dad,” she says to me. I want to tell you. It was too much.
    And there’s Larry, standing there at the altar, waiting for her, looking like he’s about to bust himself. And Faye of course, the maid of honor. Always so proud of her little sister.
    When the priest asked, “Who gives this woman to marry this man?” Carol squeezes my hand tight and we both say, “We do.” Just like we’re one person, one voice. That’s how we felt.
    There was kind of a funny moment there when the priest said to Larry, “You may kiss the bride.” And of course she still had the veil partly covering her face, so he had to lift it up and push it back over her face. Only he had a little trouble finding the edge. You know how it is when you keep trying to get one of those Glad bags open, and you just can’t get the edges separated? Of course after a few seconds he got it and everyone laughed and he kissed her.
    “Ladies and gentlemen,” says the priest. “May I introduce to you Mr. and Mrs. Larry Maretto.” Everyone clapped. The two of them just stood there for a minute or two, just to give everyone a photo opportunity.
    Have you ever seen a nicer-looking couple? Wouldn’t you just think, to look at them, they were headed for a wonderful life?

JIMMY EMMET
    I T WASN’T MY IDEA . It was Russell got me into it. Always was a peckerhead.
    It’s, I don’t know, September,