When his wife, Pat, was over at our house drinking tea one winter afternoon, she let on her husband was frustrated because he wanted to be a jet pilot. Nobody knew what drove Lieutenant Martin to beat his family but this wasn't the first time. He kept the base organized while his home life unraveled in alcohol and anger. That fucker was her father: Lieutenant Paul Martin, officer at nearby McGuire Air Force Base.
She fell to the floor sobbing in our entry as my parents dashed to the light green ranch house adjacent to ours. That fucker was drinking again and hit her.' Her father's crimson hand print splayed across her face. We rushed to the door and Enola Gay was breathing hard and could barely speak. 'Don't you ever come back, asshole!' Tires screeched, followed by a pounding on our door so hard I thought the jamb would splinter.
A door slammed and the Martin's Ford LTD roared down their driveway. It was a hot night in late May, and we sat on the sofa watching All in the Family when the shouting started next door.
