"Didn't know what to say," he admits as he drives. "And at this point, kid, I've been around Richie a lot more than I was ever around Mike. He's his own person. I don't look at him and see Mike."

And sometimes he forgets. He's been here for a long time now, with Beverly and Richie and Eddie, those kids who've been there for Bev when she needs them most.

"He's a pain in the ass like Mike," he admits.