after his classes he went over to al shockley's-she hated al shockley worse than she had ever hated anyone-and when he came home she would swear she smelled scotch or gin on his breath , but he would talk lucidly to her before supper , drink coffee , play with danny after supper , sharing a coke with him , read him a bedtime story , then sit and correct themes with cup after cup of black coffee by his hand , and she would have to admit to herself that she had been wrong .