Kip was home, and feeling restless, as he tried to convince himself it was a good idea to eat dinner, but resisted the urge to just chow down and have a good meal for fear that he would be disgusted with himself afterward. When he heard his buddy's voice coming from the front hallway, he was pleased to have the distraction and he called out, "In the kitchen, man!"
Kip wasn't used to having anyone else in the house with him, and he found himself wanting to play the part of host, just as his mother had often played hostess before their entire family went to hell in a hand basket. But he did his best to remain casual, not wanting Mitts to think he was a total head case. They were living together in the house where Kip had shot his dad, he figured it was probably weird enough already. "What's up?" he said, poking his head out into the hallway. "You need help with that stuff?"