#kitty bruce

It's spring of 1974, her brother is home from Vietnam, and things are going poorly.

"Eventually they'll be done fighting," Kitty says, walking out to sit next to her in the grass. She puffs on a cigarette, and then passes it over for Esther to take a drag.

"Thanks," she mutters. "I just cannot believe my dad."

"Joel is a special breed of human," Kitty agrees. "But Ethan put him in his place."

"'I buried a dead man in the jungle last month, what did you do, Pop?' is a hell of a response," Esther agrees. "I Thought Mama was going to collapse from heartbreak when he said that."

"Mom's trying really hard to be there for him," Kitty nods. "She cooked so much food, and she bought all new bedding and pillows for him."

"She doesn't know what else to do," Esther shrugs. "At least Dad tried to get him some therapy or whatever."

"Well, Daddy's been through enough trauma, so..." Kitty sighs and takes the cigarette back. "I just wish Joel could pull himself together. Even Moishe isn't being horrible."

"I don't know what to do," Esther says, stressed out. "I've never wanted to punch my father before."

"There's nothing you can do," Kitty tells her. "Just...be there for Ethan. Make sure Midge doesn't totally lose her shit."

Esther nods and sighs.

"Girls?"

"Over here, Daddy," Kitty calls as their father wanders over, looking exhausted.

"Hey," he says. "Everybody okay?"

"Just needed air," Esther tells him. "it got cramped in there."

"Yes it did," Lenny agrees. "Your mom is ready to go. Ethan is gonna crash here for the night. You two ready?"

"So ready," Esther tells him, getting to her feet along with Kitty.