It was just Mom and me. Dad split several when I was twelve. It was hard at first, for both of us. But, even though we never saw or spoke to Dad, he was pretty generous and sent money at least once a month. Mom tried hard to be the father figure, but it really never worked out. She was just too darn motherly with no trace of a masculine side. Because of being constantly in her presence, I adopted some of her mannerisms and speaking traits. Nothing overtly female, but