Grandpa Gus squeezed my cheeks together, kissed me on the forehead as I stiffened because what the fuck was happening, and then said it. He said it. He said, “Lenny, you’re fired.” His hands were still on my cheeks and his lips were still on my forehead as I fucking froze again. “What?” He pulled back and smiled at me. “You’re fired.” I blinked. “What?” He squeezed my cheeks together with every word. “You. Are. Fired.”
