`` someone else suggested the dogfish grill . nana shook her head and said , `` i loved your grandfather , honey , but he 's been gone a long time and i 'm still alive and kicking . but those days were gone , too . not your problem , is it , cherry ? then the door to the club swung open and there were people spilling into the alley . the confusion and pain swirled away . her sex wrapped around him , the best dream he 'd ever had . `` he swallowed quite a few of the shells . '' 