There's an old saying that "absence makes the heart grow fonder." Whoever wrote that didn't come from a large family. On a daily basis the normal slights and insults between siblings are resolved immediately (by throwing chocolate milk or surprise attack in the hallway, for example). But after John moved to St. Vincent's in Santa Barbara, absence meant that grudges were left to fester, and nobody held a grudge like John. He was very unpredictable, too, so he might wait one, two, or even three visits before enacting his revenge. He liked to lull his victim into believing that everything was OK, and then strike. Ted knew something was coming. He didn't know what, he didn't know when, and he had even forgotten why. John never forgot.
We all vied to pin the ribbon on John when he got first place. Tim, as the oldest, had right of first refusal.
