"Well, I'm the errand boy, so he notices when the booze runs out or he's hungry." So, generally speaking 'dinner time' was a good goal for being home. Not that he wanted to be home. "You know what it is, Jon. Don't act obtuse."

It didn't freak him out when Jonathan got like this, although he understood why it bothered others, but it did annoy him. For the simple reason that he hated his own weakness when it came to how he felt about his father and he didn't need it rubbed in. "I like to save myself some trouble at times. Sue me. Come on, let's get going."