it was n't that with every passing day it seemed less and less likely i was going home . they were both breathing heavily and were drenched in sweat . over time blending into the bar atmosphere came natural . ned and mary jo were close , and he was more apt to take a statement like that at face value . those words came automatically , but in the silence that followed , he found himself thinking about what they meant ... and how long it had been since they were completely true . 