"That's a lie."
"No, it isn't. You've always said he is nicer than you so sometimes it is more pleasant to be with those who aren't so temperamental. But you are my son, and you are the favored one."
"'Have always.' You haven't seen me for two years so how would you know?"
"At least you used to admit that he was nicer than you are."
"You often took the favored one places."
"To the grocery store to pick out cereal and pop tarts. Unlike you he would never grab an item of canned food that was stacked like a pyramid. He would never cause an avalanche in a grocery store. I never had to worry about taking him anyplace."
"And Rita/Lily Lily/Rita?"
"Was that a question? What about her?"
"Yes, what about her?"
She could have said, "She was too crazy" or "She was too far way" but she opted for the largest acknowledgement of what seemed to her to be true. "I did care about her but I guess I did sweep her under her welcome mat."