he looked back at me , thick , dark lashes pressing to his cheeks as he closed his eyes , thinking . there are sixty of these vests , each with its own number , and they are very important . did they ever win the argument ? mike laughed , punching jack in the arm . whatever he wants to talk about ca n't take very long . '' he gripped my knee and my ankle in his huge hands as if my leg were a large drumstick . probably more than anyone besides my parents . '' 