i wish they had n't both died before i was born . '' somewhere to his left he could hear a family of field mice scratching and chewing in the hollow of a fallen tree . she said , `` what is your name , young man ? '' brad smiled and said , ill grab a short stay , if thats all youve got . so vultures circled , but painter had the backing of a grateful president . his teeth touched the metal of the faucet and he tasted the chlorine taste of city water . 