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am and Lydia had lived in Paradise 3 months now. Sam had got $7,500 for the garage from Donald, he paid back the loan at the bank and paid for the house. He had $1000.00 left, last time he checked his bank roll it was getting thin. 
  He was getting a reputation around town as a drunk and a dope head. At night he hung around the pool hall, playing pinball, flashing their lights. When he woke up in the mornings he'd jump into his car and drive off, Lydia never asked where to as long as Sam was giving her housekeeping money. 
  Sam had saved some seeds from his stash from Viet Nam and planted them down by the Green river in a sunny spot, he always had a good crop going. He'd pick what he needed and sell it in some drugstore parking lot or the drive in picture show.  When he had enough money from the sales he'd go in the drugstore and get more painkillers for his knee as Uncle Sam did'nt give him enough to make it through the day. 
  Sam always thought, a purple heart and a monkey on my back was all I got from that conflict overseas, a great compromise. 
  One night Sam came home and there was a note in the frying pan, Lydia was at the hospital. Sam rushed over as Lydia was being wheeled back to her room, she did'nt look too good. The nurse said there had been a problem but everything was fine now and that Sam had a baby daughter. 
  Sam asked "I can't find my son, did he come here with my wife?" 
  "Yes he did." answered the nurse, "You may pick him up in the morning, you"ve obviously been drinking and by the look of your eyes I'd say you have on an illegal smile." 
  Lydia came home from her hospital stay, baby in arms and James Lewis following. 
  Sam followed with her one bag as Lydia put the new baby girl in the crib and told James Lewis to go outside and play. 
  "How could you Sam? How could you?" shouted Lydia. 
  "I was stoned, ok?" explained Sam "I guess I was thinking of James Lewis when I wrote Barbara Lewis on the birth certificate." 
  Lydia told Sam she needed some money, Sam threw all the money he had on the kitchen table and left. He went down to his little garden and picked and dried enough pot to get him some more money for pills, pool and booze. Sam never went home after that day, he rented a room on the lower east side. Lydia had to go on relief as the kids ran around in other people clothes. It was getting harder and harder for Sam to get pills from the druggists, while the pain in his knee got worse.

~ Hey buddy?

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