>Be Evan.

>Be a week before Jason kills himself.

>Be having dinner with family, some sort of casserole .

>Jason does not look good. He's pale and silent. He spends almost all his time in his room these days, living off the money he made from the military.

>Father is pontificating to the family. Just like Jason has his own rants, Evan's father will also go on long rants of his own.

>Right now he's talking about the state of the world and how networking is the most important asset you can have to building a career.

>You gotta get out there, and put yourself out there, and find something to do, he says.

>He's saying this to everyone, but they all know it's directed at Jason, who's been unemployed for about a year and a half.

>His parents have been patient, especially because Jason hasn't had to ask them for money, but they stipulated that he could live under their roof only if he was searching for a job, and Jason has been slacking on that recently. He put forth effort at first, but nothing came of it and he gave up.

>Evan's dad talks some more about broadening your horizons and not making excuses.

>Then he looks straight at Jason.

>The world will not help a weak man. The world'll help a lady out, but not a weak man. World doesn't care about a weak man.

>Jason doesn't say anything, just eats small bits of the food.

>There was a time in his life where he would have argued the fuck out of this, but now he keeps his mouth shut and his eyes down.

>Their father continues. He's not trying to be an asshole, he's just trying to be honest. He finally found a decent, steady job after being unemployed on and off for two years and he wants to impart his hard-won wisdom.

>You gotta make your time while you can. Early. Get in there good and early. Cause it doesn't last forever. Just ask your grandparents that. And no one, and I mean no one, owes you a damn thing.

>Their mom eats silently at the other end of the table, staying out of it.

>I'm not worried about dying, Jason says suddenly.

>Their father turns on him.

>Oh, really, he says condescendingly. So are you saying we should we start planning your funeral now, then?

>I don't want a funeral, Jason says, picking at his food. Don't deserve one.

>Oh, poor baby. What would you like us to do then?

>Jason seems to think about it for a second.

>I'd like to be cremated and scattered over one of the Great Lakes up north, near Leland, where we went that one time when Evan and I were younger.

>Well, you make sure you write that down, says their dad. Put it in your will. Tell your siblings, cause I'm not gonna be around to do it, that's for damn sure.

>I don't wanna be cremated, says Maddie, looking disgusted.

>You're not going to have to worry about that for a long time, says their mother to all three of them. She focuses her eyes on her husband.

>Harold, that'll do.

>Someone's gotta tell 'em. This one here-- 23 years old, served his country, gets kicked out, still lives in his parent's basement. Like I said, that shit ain't free forever.

>Jason doesn't say anything, continues looking down at his plate.