“Did she tell you what happened?” Tina asked timidly.

“No.” Alice blurted out. “She refused to tell me who she had the disconnect with. I didn’t know Bette knew anyone that powerful. She better make it through this shit alright or I swear to god I’m gonna…” Alice couldn’t even finish her threat she was so shaken.

“Al,… I”

“Anyway Tina how’s the family emergency? Is everything alright?” she interrupted Tina without notice.

“Yea everything so far is fine my mother just needs me for a few days.”

“Your mother? I thought you hated your mother?” Alice asked in her usual tactless blunt form.

“I don’t recall saying hate Alice.” Tina laughed into the phone.

“Oh God Alice I can’t stand that woman. I swear I hate her so much sometimes.” Alice said taking on Tina’s voice. She cleared her throat and switched back to her own and heard Tina still laughing into the phone, “I remember more than you guys think I do.”

“Ok, you win. There was nothing I could do she needed me so…”

“Yea families are so inconvenient aren’t they? Well I think I’m gonna plan a trip down to see Lenore for a few days. This shit here is kind of wearing on me, ya know? Besides I think I need to see my little sister for a little while. I know she’s only hanging onto her sanity by a thread living there with Lenore and Angelo.”

“You know I never could figure out why you call your parents by their first names?”

“If you ever met these people you would understand that they are not the type of people you would ever call mommy and daddy. Most if not all of my childhood they spent 50% of their time trying to kill each other and the other 50% fucking each other senseless. Really, why do you think I have so many siblings.”

“Maybe they wanted a big family Al.” Tina said amazed at Alice’s family life.

“Or maybe they couldn’t keep it in their pants long enough to give each other a break. I’m like 98% sure there isn’t one place in that house that we haven’t caught them having sex.” Alice said and heard Tina burst into laughter.