"Its hot out today. Would you like to come in and have a cold beer?" Virginia asked.

"Gee, Mrs. Simmas, that would be great," he answered.

"Call me Virgie," she said, pushing The screen door open.

Joe was a well-built boy with sharp, chiseled features and the graceful movements of the athlete. She thought of her own daughter, and wondered how Ruthie was enjoying her fist year in college. it didn't seem possible that she could have a nineteen-year-old daughter. The last twenty years had just drifted away, been wasted. It was stupid to get married and have a child right out of high school before you even had a chance to see what life was all about.

Joe interrupted her thoughts. "Nice layout you got here, Virgie. Where's the beer?"

He is a fresh little bastard, Virginia thought, and pointed to the refrigerator.

He jerked open the fridge and popped a can of Harvey's beer. "You want one, Virgie?" he said over his shoulder.

Virginia hated beer "Yes, please," she said. He popped another and came over and handed it to her. She took it, her hand trembling.

"How old are you, Joe?" she asked. "Nineteen. Just go my driver's license a couple of months ago."

"You've been picking up our trash for four or five months," she said.

"So I cheated a few months," he said, draining the can and clunking it loudly on the table.

"You drink awfully fast, Joe. Do you want another?"

Joe got up and went to the refrigerator without answering and opened two more. Virginia bravely poured down her beer and took the second from his hand.