OH THE PIGEONS WERE AWAKE, THE RATS WERE SLEEPING, EVERYTHING WAS GREY. WARM FOG. A COP CAR TURNED ITS SIREN ON AND THEN OFF AGAIN AND SPED THROUGH A RED LIGHT, ANOTHER COP VAN SPENT TEN MINUTES ON A PARKING JOB.
A PRISON BUS PASSED BY.
WE CAN GO BACK IN TIME, MY EX-GIRLFRIEND SAID, OR I THOUGHT I HEARD HER SAY. I GO TO MY SECRET INSTAGRAM. ONE OF MY MORMON MOMMY-BLOGGERS HAS POSTED A PICTURE OF HER FIVE-YEAR-OLD HOLDING A FAT STACK OF MONEY TO ADVERTISE THE FACT THAT SHE’S DOING A GIVEAWAY—WINNERS CAN PICK EITHER FIFTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS CASH OR A LOUIS VUITTON NEVERFULL. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS LIKE AND FOLLOW AND TAG THREE FRIENDS AND SHARE TO STORIES AND SUBSCRIBE TO THE MOMMY’S NEWSLETTER ABOUT THE BEST BIBLE VERSES FOR RAISING GODLY CHILDREN.


I’M IN LOVE WITH A DYING MAN I SAID
YES I SAID YES BREATHE OUT SUNNING.
IN LOVE WITH A DYING MAN, I SAID YES
FOR AFTER ALL THESE ALLOWANCESNEEDLES UNSTITCH THAT WHICH IS THREADED SHUT, OPENING A DARK Y IN YOUR CENTER, AND FROM THAT CAVITY THEY PULL FORTH GENTLY THE BAG THAT HOLDS THOSE SOFT PIECES OF YOU, THE SLOPPY AND THE LIMP, NOW LAID TO REST IN THEIR PLACES BETWEEN YOUR BONES LIKE CHILDREN IN THEIR CRIBS. THERE WAS A SUNSET. THREE HOMINIDS ENTERED THE ROOM AND BEGAN TO GRUNT. THEY POINTED TO THE RED IN THE SUNSET, AND THE RED IN THE AUTUMN LEAVES, AND GRUNTED THE SAME GRUNT. ONE OF THE HOMINIDS STABBED THE OTHER HOMINID TO DEATH AND WHEN THE BLOOD POURED OUT, THEY GRUNTED THE SAME GRUNT. THUS, THE METAPHOR OF RED WAS INVENTED.THE PROBLEM, ENGINEER SAYS, IS POOR ENGINEERING. BETTER ENGINEERING COULD ENGINEER THE PROBLEM OUT.
GUY SAYS, SO YOU CAN DO IT PLEASE?
ENGINEER SAYS, I’M THE KIND OF ENGINEER KEEPS THINGS RUNNING, NOT THE KIND OF ENGINEER WHO DESIGNS OR CREATES, SO YOU HAVE THE WRONG ENGINEER.
SINK, GUY SAYS, WE’LL BE SUNK.
SUNK FIRST, GUY SAYS, THEN ME AND US, THEN EVERYBODY.I IMAGINE LOOKING OUT THE WINDOW AT THE BIG CHRISTMAS MOON AND SEEING JESUS FLYING OVER IT WITH A BOW AND ARROW. HE SHOOTS IT INTO THE LITTLE GIRL’S HEART AND SHE TAKES MY HAND BECAUSE NOW WE’RE IN LOVE. WE’RE GOING SOMEWHERE FAR AWAY TOGETHER WHERE EVERYONE IS HAPPY AND MAGIC REALLY DOES EXIST.MY ROOMMATE SAYS—AS MEN GET OLDER
THEY LIKE FULL BODIES, MY NIPPLES SHOW THROUGH
MY BELLEVUE BLUES, AND I SUCK A TOOTSIE POP

GEORGE GROWLS HOT BREATH IN MY EAR, I WANT TO SUCK
ON THOSE TITTIES, HIS SKIN IS WORN, DIRTY WHEN HE IS CLEAN,
—WHEN HE LOSES IT, I AM SURE HE WILL HURT ME IT HAPPENED AT THE RIGHT TIME FOR US, HE SAID, US WHO ARE JUST NOW TURNING THE TOWERS’ FINAL AGE. AN EARLY MEMORY, FORMATIVE. RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT STAGE, YOU KNOW, FREUD HAD A TERM FOR IT, WHERE YOU’RE REALLY REALIZING HOW SEPARATE YOU ARE FROM YOUR MOTHER. FROM BOTH YOUR PARENTS. I, OF COURSE, WAS AT HOME, WATCHING WITH MY MOTHER. I REMEMBER WATCHING ONE FALL, AND THEN THE OTHER. IT’S SO FIXED, YOU KNOW, SO ABSOLUTE IN THE TIMING AND THE ANGLES. IT WILL ALWAYS HAVE HAD HAPPENED.
WHEN SHE LEANED CLOSER ON THE BAR STOOL THE SMELL HIT ME WITH A BRUTE OPACITY, A WALL OF TOO MANY NOTES, ALL AT THE SAME TIME: ASHTRAY, PATCHOULI, DIRTY ENGINE OIL, CURDLED CREAM, FIREWORKS, BITTER VIOLETS, BARBERSHOP, SOUR CHEESE, UMAMI BROTH, CATNIP, THE MOVIE WATER WORLD, PLAYSTATION 2 CONSOLE EXHAUST, EARL GRAY TEA, CHEAP MERLOT, SLIM JIMS, A GARBURATOR, ANIMAL HUSBANDRY, OLD LADY PURSE, PINE CONES, SALAD DRESSING, RAIN, A ROLL OF NICKELS, FIREPLACE, CATHOLIC MASS, AND SALTED MEAT.

ONLY NOW AS HE WATCHES ME IN THE REARVIEW, HIS SMIRK CURLS HIGHER, TOO HIGH, INTO A GUMMY SMILE WHOSE MAGNITUDE CONFESSES EVERYTHING: HOW HE KNOWS, AND I KNOW: THERE’S ANOTHER LAYER HERE, A DARKER WORLD IN WHICH HE RULES ALL. “BUT WHAT’S AN EARTHQUAKE TO A CAT, ANYWAY?”


SHE’S JUST THE GIRL IN CLASS WHO WRITES LOWERCASE POETRY AND IS TRYING SO HARD TO BE DEEP BUT IS JUST A PRETENTIOUS BITCH.
HE CHATS ABOUT NOTHING FOR AN ETERNITY,
I ENDLESSLY SPUTTER A-HUH'S AND OH-WOW'S
I LISTEN AND DON'T HANG UP. I WILL PROBABLY STILL
CALL HIM
THE FOLLOWING DAY.


MY MOTHER, HER MOTHER, AND HER MOTHERS MOTHER USED TO SAY “ONLY BORING PEOPLE GET BORED”. I CRAWL THROUGH GLASS, SKIN MY KNEES, GRIT MY TEETH, SCREAM, AND WAIL, BUT I AM NEVER BORED.
MARY, I WANT TO APPEASE YOU. I WANT TO LEARN HOW TO GIVE MYSELF UP, HOW TO TRANSFORM MY BODY INTO A CAUSE. THE DOOR FLIES OPEN AND PAPA BARRELS IN, SNATCHING HER BACK FROM ME IN A TORRENT OF SELF-CASTIGATION. HIS FOOTSTEPS ARE LEADEN, REPLICATING FALLING, AND HE IS STUMBLING TOWARDS ME WITH EYES ABLAZE. THE SHOWER STOPS AND THE WEIGHT OF OMMAH EAVESDROPPING PRESSES AGAINST THE SILENCE.HE SAYS HI, MAKING HIS VOICE ALL PRETEND-SMALL FOR ME. HE’S VERY DRUNK AND NEITHER OF US ARE GONNA SAY ANYTHING ABOUT IT. TALKING LIKE A SHY WIDDLE BABY IS HIS WAY OF CONCEDING. I ASK IF HE HAD A GOOD DAY OFF AND I SOUND LIKE A GIRL.
I EXHALE THE LAST BIT OF HASH. I’M ABOUT AS HIGH AS I WILL GET, DOING THE THING WHERE I RUN THE SHOWER AND LET THE STEAM INHERIT THE BATHROOM. MY ROOMMATES AND I AGREED, NO SMOKING FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SEMESTER. A PACT. PROMISES. BUT WE WERE ALL CHEATING IN OUR OWN WAY. YES, MY THING WAS SMOKING WHILE I PRETENDED TO SHOWER.YOUR DAD IS DYING. YOU DECIDE TO SEE A THERAPIST. THE THERAPIST IS A FREE THERAPIST, PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT, SENT FROM THE BASE. THE THERAPIST SAYS HE DOESN’T HAVE AN OFFICE AND CAN’T COME TO YOUR HOUSE BUT CAN MEET YOU SOMEWHERE NEAR YOUR HOUSE, LIKE THE PIZZA RESTAURANT UP THE STREET. THE THERAPIST SOUNDS HUNGRY. THE THERAPIST LOOKS HUNGRY IN HIS PHOTO.
SADIE IS ON STAGE IN A SWARMING ARENA. A ROW OF UGLY CRIERS SURGE AGAINST THE BARRIER, SHRIEKING THE WORDS TO A BAD SONG ABOUT GOOD SEX. SHE IS EUPHORIC UNTIL SHE REALISES WHAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. BUT SHE HAS NO CONTROL OVER HER BODY, SHE IS A CALM MARIONETTE, SHE IS STRUTTING ACROSS THE STAGE TO HER DEATH WITH A SERIES OF SHIMMIES AND HEAD SNAPS.
NOW, WHY HAD JIMMY GOTTEN INTO THE MARCH SEA?
BECAUSE OF THE RUSSIANS, HALE AND HEARTY, AS THEY DIPPED INTO FROZEN LAKES, JIMMY HAD SEEN VIDEOS ON HIS PHONE. BECAUSE JIMMY WAS FIRE TYPE, ACCORDING TO THE AYURVEDIC SYSTEM––STRONG, LITHE. “NOT LIKE YOU, YOU’RE WIND, I CAN SEE THAT.” YES, JIMMY HAD SAID IT MANY TIMES BEFORE. AN UNDEVELOPED BODY, FORMLESS AS THE WIND. WAVERING LIKE A HOUSEPLANT, CROOKED, TALL, LEAVES SPARSE ON THE VINE. IT ALL COVERED UP NICELY IN A SWEATER, THOUGH.
 I WAS ONLY THERE TO GIVE HER A BIRTHDAY PRESENT, THE MANHOLE COVER I’D STOLEN OFF THE STREET AND PAINTED TO LOOK LIKE IO, THE INNERMOST OF THE FOUR MOONS ROUND THE PLANET JUPITER. YEARS BEFORE, ON OUR SECOND DATE, WE’D VISITED THE PLANETARIUM. JANIE HAD GAZED UP TEARY-EYED AT THE ARTIFICIAL SKY AND SAID IO WAS THE MOST EXQUISITE OBJECT IN ALL THE UNIVERSE. TO THIS DAY, I CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY SHE CALLED THE COPS.DAD TAKES ADA AN HOUR EARLY TO YOUTH GROUP TO MEET WITH THE PRIEST AND I STAY HOME GOOGLING STIGMATA. IT SUCKS, I’M ABOUT TO BECOME A WOMAN BUT ADA IS ABOUT TO BECOME A SAINT. THE WIKIPEDIA PAGE HAS AN ENTIRE SECTION DEVOTED TO FRAUDULENT STIGMATICS— THOSE WHOSE ONLY MIRACLE WAS SELF-MUTILATION. I FIND MY MOM SITTING ON THE COUCH IN THE LIVING ROOM AND THROW THE COMPUTER INTO HER LAP.
LOTS OF FAKERS, I SAY. MY WIFE HATES IT WHEN I TALK ABOUT MY WEEKEND WITH PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN. WE’RE LYING IN BED IN A CLOUD OF SMOKE AND I’M SULKING BECAUSE MY WIFE JUST PUT OUT HER CIGARETTE IN MY CAESAR SALAD.
THE GRADIENT RISING, CAN YOU FEEL IT? COLDER NOW THIS EARTH, AND WE ARE DRIVING UP SOMETHING BIG. OUT THE WINDOW DOWN THE SIDES OF OUR SEDAN I SEE OVER CLOUDS WE ARE OVERTAKING. I PUSH MY CHEEK AGAINST THE CHILL AND WHISPER, “MY FATHER IS A SECRET HERO.” 
IN GREECE, THERE IS A RUMOR OR FOLK STORY ABOUT A YOUNG ROMANIAN SNIPER WHO ATTEMPTED TO ASSASSINATE WINSTON CHURCHILL BUT MISSED HER TARGET AND WAS IN TURN SHOT. THIS WORK REIMAGINES THAT STORY PLAYING OUT DIFFERENTLY WITH A SUCCESSFUL ASSASSINATION OF CHURCHILL AND A DARING ESCAPE, TANGLING TOGETHER FANTASY AND HISTORY.


ONCE WE WERE IN THE GENDER NEUTRAL BATHROOM (THE ONE ON THE SECOND FLOOR, WHERE EVERYONE GOES TO HAVE STRAIGHT SEX), THINGS PROGRESSED RATHER QUICKLY (KISSING, TOUCHING, ETC ETC), AND THEN WHEN IT WAS TIME TO SEAL THE DEAL (SO TO SPEAK) I REACHED INTO MY EDDIE BAUER BACKPACK TO TAKE OUT THE TROJAN I’D BEEN SAVING FOR THIS VERY OCCASION.
HER FRIENDS TEXT HER FOR ALL KINDS OF REASONS: (1) TO CONSOLE HER, (2) TO SEE IF SHE WANTS TO GO TO THE MOVIES, (3) TO ASK WHY SHE WASN’T IN CLASS, (4) TO TELL HER THAT THEIR GRANDMA DIED AND THAT THEY KNOW THE DEATH-STING.
TWO PEOPLE WILL WADE UNTIL THE WATER JUST REACHES THEIR TORSOS, JUST BARELY TOUCHES. THE TALLER ONE WILL STAND ON TIPTOES, BACK ARCHED AWAY FROM THE WATER, HANDS, ELBOWS STIFF. THE SHORTER ONE WILL LEAP AHEAD, DIP TO SHOULDERS AND RETURN GLISTENING, THEN PLUNGE, ENTIRELY COVERED. THE TALLER ONE WILL WATCH HUNDREDS OF WATER DROPLETS BURST APART, SUSPENDED, FOR A BREATH BEFORE TUMBLING, TURNING BACK TO THE LAKE. A FEW DROPLETS WILL CLING TO THE SHORTER ONE’S NECK, RIGHT BELOW THE EAR, AND DRIP, DRIP DOWN. 
YOU HAVE TO GET THE DOG DOWN ONTO THE GROUND, PUT YOUR KNEE ON ITS NECK, AND USE YOUR FREE HAND TO GOUGE THE DOG’S EYES OUT. THEN IT WILL STOP TRYING TO KILL YOU.THE TOMB IS OUR UNFINAL RESTING PLACE

EVERYONE THINKS THEY’LL KNOW SOMEONE FOREVER, AND THEN THEY DON'T.” YOU TOLD ME IN THE ICE CREAM AISLE OF THE GROCERY STORE. I WANTED TO BE SOMEWHERE MORE BEAUTIFUL. FOR NO GOOD REASON, I REARRANGED OUR BEDROOM. I ATE PEANUT BUTTER AND APPLES ON THE FLOOR OF MY CLOSET AND WAITED FOR YOU TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.
EVERY SINGLE TIME THIS HAPPENS YOU THINK THIS HAS TO BE A NIGHTMARE WHERE’S HARMONY KORINE UGH I HAVE TO KILL MYSELF BUT THIS SET IS SO GOOD RIGHT NOW I HAVE TO DANCE I’LL NEVER BE THIS YOUNG AGAIN WAIT MAYBE I SHOULD GO OUTSIDE THIS GUY IS DOING THIS TRICK WHERE HE INHALES A SHIT TON OF NOS THEN BLOWS ON A CIGARETTE AND IT’S EXACTLY LIKE WHEN PATRICIA ARQUETTE BLEW JAMES GANDOLFINI’S FACE OFF IN TRUE ROMANCE MAYBE THIS IS A METAPHOR
I’M TRYING TO REDISCOVER MYSELF, MY OWN BOOMING LAUGH. TO FIND IT AGAIN IS THE BEST OF CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE. TO LOSE ONE’S MIND, THE DEAREST REASON TO TAKE THE PILL, GO FOR A WALK, WATCH THE SUN RISE OVER HOLLYWOOD. OR RATHER, WATCH IT SET, BECAUSE YOU NEVER WAKE UP AT DAWN. 
THE CHURCH IS DARK AND I’M DISAPPOINTED BY ALL THE ROPES KEEPING ME FROM EVERYWHERE. THE LIGHTS ARE ELECTRIC, WHICH IS FINE, BUT I WANT SOMETHING A BIT MORE CULTURAL. I WANT THE REPENTANCE TO BE THICK – IF ALL THESE PEOPLE ARE CHRISTIANS AND THERE’S CRIME FLOWING UP THROUGH THE CRACKS, THEN WHY IS EVERYONE HERE A TOURIST?N: SO HOW WAS @FREEZE_MAGAZINE BORN? WERE YOU IMITATING SOMEONE?

C: IT WASN’T SUCH A CONSCIOUS DECISION ACTUALLY. I HAD FINISHED UNIVERSITY AND WAS LOOKING FOR A JOB. IT WAS HARD BECAUSE I WAS IN LONDON, I’M NOT AN EU CITIZEN, AND NEEDED A VISA SPONSORSHIP. SO I STARTED THE ACCOUNT TO CHANNEL MY FRUSTRATIONS. IT WAS MORE ABOUT ME DOING IT EVERY DAY WITHOUT TAKING IT TOO SERIOUSLY, NEVER LIKE A GRAND PROJECT.L FOR LOVE, L FOR LONELY, L FOR LANGUAGE, L FOR LUCKY, L FOR LIAR, L FOR LOONYBIN, L FOR LAUGHTER, L FOR LATINA, L FOR LIFE, L FOR LEARNED, L FOR LOYALTY, L FOR LONGING, L FOR LEE- THAT’S MY MOM.
BREATHING HARD, I EXTRACT THE PIN FROM MY THUMB AND HOLD IT CLOSE TO MY FACE. IN THE DARKNESS, THE BEAD OF BLOOD IS AS BLACK AS HATE. TOUCHING IT TO MY TONGUE, IT TASTES OF THINGS LOST.
WE MET AT THE COFFEE SHOP TO DISCUSS POTENTIAL EMPLOYMENT. 
HE TOLD ME ABOUT HIS EX-WIFE, BITTER, THE SCORPION INFESTATION IN HIS GARAGE, OUT OF HAND.
I TOLD HIM I HAD NEVER WORKED WITH JEWELRY BEFORE BUT HAVE A METICULOUS PERSONALITY. WENDY AND I HAD SEX 20 OR 30 TIMES, AND THEN I DEVELOPED CHRONIC TONSILLITIS FROM SMOKING 20-PLUS CIGARETTES A DAY, OUTSIDE, IN SUBARCTIC TEMPERATURES. I CALLED MY PARENTS TO FIND OUT IF I HAD HEALTH INSURANCE. IT TURNED OUT I DID. WHILE I’D BEEN GALLIVANTING ACROSS AMERICA, LEADING NATURE HIKES AND SLEEPING IN COW PASTURES, MY DAD HAD BEEN GOING TO WORK EVERY DAY, MAKING PAYMENTS ON THE HOUSE, AND PROVIDING HEALTH INSURANCE TO HIS LONG-HAIRED PRODIGAL SON.
MY VIOLENCE SHOULD VERIFY ITSELF,
BECAUSE I AM DESPERATE
TO BUY LITTLE PIECES OF IT
AND PROVE THAT IT EXISTSSB: WILL SELF DESCRIBED EVERY MALE WRITER’S FIRST LITERARY WORK AS AN ACT OF PATRICIDE. THOUGHTS?

MH: I THINK I’D LIKE WILL SELF. ALL I KNOW IS WHEN MY FATHER PASSED AWAY, I FELT A GREAT SENSE OF RELIEF. YES, I WAS VERY SAD, BUT I REMEMBER ALSO FEELING LIKE HUGE EXPECTATIONS HAD BEEN LIFTED. I KNOW HIGH SCHOOL ROMANCE WOULD HAVE BEEN TERRIFYING TO PUBLISH IF MY FATHER HAD STILL BEEN ALIVE. THIS BOOK MAY NOT BE WHAT KILLED HIM, BUT THE FACT THAT HE IS DEAD HAS HELPED ME BECOME WHO I TRULY WISH TO BE AS A HUMAN BEING. WITH ALL THAT SAID, HIGH SCHOOL ROMANCE WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE TO WRITE WITHOUT HIM. THE SEXUAL APPETITES OF THE CHARACTERS ALONG WITH THE SELF-ACCEPTANCE OF THOSE APPETITES IS A CONTINUATION OF THE SEXUAL REVOLUTION HE STARTED.
SHE DIDN’T WANT THE CUP BECAUSE SHE KNEW THAT IF SHE GOT THE CUP, THE GIRLS WOULD COME FOR HER AT BREAK, ALL FOUR OF THEM. TWO WOULD TAKE HER ARMS, AND TWO WOULD TAKE HER LEGS. THE TWO WITH HER LEGS WOULD WORK TOGETHER TO OPEN HER LEGS, AND THE TWO AT HER ARMS WOULD TAKE THE GOLD CUP FROM HER HANDS AND THEY WOULD PUT IT IN BETWEEN HER LEGS, AND THEY WOULD WALK HER ROUND THE PLAYGROUND LIKE THAT, AIMING THE CUP AT THE BOYS, AND MAKING SOUNDS WITH THEIR MOUTHS LIKE SHE WAS PISSING. AFTER ANOTHER UNPRECEDENTED PENETRATION OF HIS FORM, JAMES SOCKETED HIMSELF INTO ONE OF THE SLEEPING BAGS ATOP HIS ICE SLAB. CHARLIE SAT ON TOP OF HERS AND CHECKED HER PHONE, NOT ABSENT-MINDEDLY. SHE SEEMED TO HAVE THOUSANDS OF THINGS TO RESPOND TO. “I WOULD HAVE CHARGED YOU TRIPLE IF I KNEW YOU WERE STAYING HERE,” SHE SAID.
MAYBE SEX TRAFFICKING IS CONSIDERED SUCH A BAD SITUATION BECAUSE THEY PICK THE WRONG GIRLS, SHE THOUGHT. HER LIFE WAS DRUGS AND SEX, SO IT ALMOST SOUNDED LIKE A RELIEF TO HAVE A LIFE OF DRUGS AND SEX WHERE THE DRUGS WERE FREE AND THE SEX WAS YOUR ONLY RESPONSIBILITY. IF ONLY I COULD HAVE BEEN SO LUCKY. I GUESS IN A WAY I AM A PART OF A SOFT SEX TRAFFICKING RING WHICH IS CALLED MODELING AND NIGHTLIFE, EXCEPT I HAVE TO PAY RENT.GS: WHEN YOU FINISH A BOOK OR A BODY OF WORK, DO YOU USUALLY HAVE THAT FEELING OF HAVING FAILED IN SOME WAY?

SM: OH, OF COURSE. YEAH, TOTALLY. I WANT TO FUCKING TOUCH THE FACE OF GOD, YOU KNOW? I’VE CHANGED MY WRITING IN SOME WAYS, I USED TO DRINK SUGAR-FREE RED BULL AS I WROTE, AND ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO I STARTED DRINKING THE REGULAR RED BULL WITH ALL THE SUGAR IN IT, AND SOMETIMES, MAN, IT FELT LIKE I WAS TOUCHING THE FACE OF GOD. I DON’T GET THAT SUGAR RUSH IN THE WAY THAT I ONCE DID, THAT’S WHY I HAVE TO GO TO THE DENTIST SO MUCH NOW, BECAUSE OF ALL THAT RED BULL.


A NEW SILENCE ANNOUNCES ITSELF, AND SHE STANDS THERE, TAPPING HER CHIN RED. HER EYES PANNING SLOW-LIKE ACROSS THE MESS SHE’S ALREADY MADE UNTIL LANDING ON THE OVEN’S DIGITAL CLOCK TO CONFIRM WHAT SHE ALREADY KNOWS: THAT THE LIKELIHOOD OF HER HAVING THIS CAKE DONE IS ZERO.
A CLOUD OF DOUBT HUNG OVER HER LIKE THE SMOG OF HER BOYFRIEND’S EVER-PRESENT VAPE PEN. SHE COULDN’T REALLY AFFORD THE BABY, OR THE OUTFITS SHE WANTED TO BUY FOR IT. BUT THEY NEEDED THIS, SHE REASSURED HERSELF, REMEMBERING HER MOTHER, HIS CONNIVING EX, AND THEIR HAPPILY MARRIED FRIENDS. THIS CHILD COULD BE THEIR TICKET TO BARBECUES AND BIRTHDAY PARTIES, TO A BETTER RELATIONSHIP, TO MARRIAGE EVEN. KS: I saw Caveh on the F train and told him I was going to speak with you. I asked him about his POV on Actors. He has this way of speaking you know: radical honesty and all. He said “I think it’s a very brave movie and it’s very funny.”
BB: That’s so funny. I was talking to this stranger I’d just met. I told him Actors was a comedy. He knew to laugh. Sometimes I wonder if I should tell the viewers: you’re allowed to laugh. But also, who am I to tell people how to experience my movie?


IT’S LIKE NIETZSCHE’S MYTH OF THE ETERNAL RETURN: YOU CAN VIEW THE WORLD WITHOUT ‘GOD’ AS ‘DEMONIC’ (IN WHICH YOU MAKE THE ‘DEMONS’ OR THE ‘HORRIBLE’ FORCES OF THE BODY). WHEREAS: IF YOU SIMPLY ACCEPT THE ETERNAL RETURN, THEN THE BODY BECOMES THE AREA OF JOY, AND YOU VALUE LIFE AND YOU VALUE ALL THE CHANGES AND ALL THAT IS IN FLUX. SO, HOW CAN WE INSTITUTE A SOCIETY WHERE THAT SEARCH IS BOTH INDIVIDUAL AND COLLECTIVE AT THE SAME TIME?I DID IT BECAUSE I HATE WOMEN, FUSION POWER, AND SPACE EXPLORATION.
LEONARD IS A BIG MAN WHO SUFFERS BURSTS OF AMNESIA AND FORGETS ABOUT THE TIMES HE HITS HER. HE SAYS HE DOES IT BECAUSE SHE IS TALL AND HER PONYTAIL IS HIGH AND EASY TO GRAB, SHE HAS STRONG CALVES, AND LOOKS LIKE SHE CAN FEND FOR HERSELF. THAT’S ALL HE REMEMBERS ABOUT HIS GIRLFRIEND AFTER HE HITS HER, THAT SHE’S BIG–– A BIG GIRL WHO CAN DECIDE THINGS ON HER OWN. BUT NOBODY IS AS BIG AS LEONARD. HE DRAGS HIS GIANT FEET ACROSS THE PUDDLES OF THE ETERNAL CITY.
THE MAN’S NAME IS WILLIAM, OR HE SAYS IT IS WILLIAM, AND HE REPEATS HIS NAME AT INCREASINGLY LOUD VOLUME, WHILE THE CELL PHONE ATTENDANTS TELL HIM THAT HE IS AT THE INCORRECT STORE FOR HIS PROBLEM, WHATEVER THAT PROBLEM MAY BE.IF I HAVE TO HAVE ONE MORE CONVERSATION ABOUT LATE STAGE CAPITALIST MORTALITY IN A CITY FULL OF APARTMENTS AND HOMELESS PEOPLE WHERE WE’RE ALL OBSESSED WITH DEATH BY COMPARISON AND GETTING ON RAYA JUST TO COMPLAIN ABOUT IT AND HARVEY AND ELLEN AND THANK GOD THEY FELL FROM POWER IT’S SO DIFFERENT NOW BECAUSE IT’S, SCREAM IT WITH ME NOW, SUCH A GOOD TIME FOR WOMEN IN FILM.I KEEP ALL MY GUARDIANS IN ORBIT AROUND ME. THEIR EYES ARE MY STREAMLINE OF LOVE. SOME ARE CELESTIAL BEINGS, A FEW ARE PEDOPHILES, OTHERS ARE FBI AGENTS, SOCIAL SCIENTISTS, AND OTHER COLLECTORS OF DATA. IF THEY EVER CEASE TO WATCH OVER ME, I WON’T KNOW HOW TO BEHAVE.
HER INITIAL PLAN WAS NOT TWO MONTHS BUT FOREVER, YET EVEN FOREVER COULD NOT ENDURE THE ROBUST RECKLESSNESS OF IGNORANT YOUTH AND THUS SHE UNILATERALLY RESUMED OUR CONVERSATION THE DAY BEFORE I DROVE HER TO HER ABORTION APPOINTMENT. I HAD NEVER EXERTED FORCE ON ANYONE IN THE PAST FIFTY TWO SPRINGS OF MY HUMBLE, COMPLIANT LIFE, BUT THAT MORNING I PUNCHED HER BOYFRIEND IN THE FACE.
HIS DISEASE SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLEAR TO ME AS THE MAN’S EYES WERE HOODED AND HIS EYEBROWS PERCHED SO HIGH UP ON HIS FACE THAT HE LOOKED LIKE A BENIGN WHITE CARICATURE OF MICKEY MOUSE. THE FIRST NIGHT I SPENT THERE, HE DID NOT SLEEP IN HIS SECOND-FLOOR BEDROOM BUT RATHER STAYED UP ALL NIGHT IN THE KITCHEN NEXT TO THE LIVING ROOM WRITING LETTERS THAT HE WOULD NEVER SEND TO NANCY PELOSI, NICOLAS MADURO, AND HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND.


CIARAN FOUND CRYING REPULSIVE. WHATEVER DISTASTE HE ALREADY FELT FOR ME DURING ARGUMENTS, THE SIGHT OF TEARS SHARPENED IT. HIS EYES WOULD NARROW AND LOSE ANY RESIDUAL WARMTH OR COMPASSION. HE WOULD TURN AWAY FROM ME, REFUSE TO WITNESS.


YOU SHOULD KNOW I
THINK OF YOU OFTEN.
I STAND IN CALIFORNIA
IN A HOUSE THAT IS MINE.
I DON’T GO TO CHURCH,
BUT I LIVE NEAR MOUNTAINS
AND OJAI
WHICH IS THE SAME THING.
I IMAGINED HOW IT MIGHT FEEL TO BID ADO TO A HUSBAND SENT TO WAR AND THOUGHT I MIGHT UNDERSTAND HOW SOMETHING EXPERIENCED FROM THE EXTERNAL COULD DRIVE YOU MAD. I WENT BACK DOWN THE ESCALATOR AND LOOKED AT THE MAGICAL MOVING STEEL STEPS AND LED LIGHTS AND RUBBER ARMBANDS AND WONDERED IF OUR ENVIRONMENT MIGHT REALLY BE DOING THAT.IN ONE GRUESOME CHAPTER HENRIETTA IS CAPTURED, KIDNAPPED, HELD FOR RANSOM BY SOME UNKNOWN VILLAIN. HIS TWO BUFFOONISH LACKEYS ARE BRUTAL. IT DESCRIBES THESE CARTOONISH MEN PINNING HER DOWN, TAKING TURNS HAVING THEIR WAY WITH HER. IT SAYS THAT SHE WAS SO POWERFUL, THAT SHE WAS SO TENDER, THAT SHE WAS SO LOVELY SHE TRANSFORMS THIS ACT INTO LOVE MAKING. CAUSING THE TWO MEN TO FALL DEEPLY IN LOVE WITH HER.
“SHE’S REALLY FAT NOW,” MY DAD EXPLAINED EARNESTLY ABOUT HIS OTHER WOMAN. HE WAS SITTING ON THE CORNER OF MY SISTER’S BED, I WAS UPRIGHT, WHILE MY SISTER WAS LYING DOWN LOOKING AT ALL THE PLUSHIES LINING HER CEILING THAT MY MOM STUFFED UP THERE.
I RUMMAGED BRIEFLY THROUGH YOUR MEDICINE CABINET. JOSEPHINE WAS ON THE SAME BRAND OF BIRTH CONTROL THAT I WAS, I DISCOVERED, AND SHE WORE CLINIQUE’S HAPPY PERFUME. THERE WAS NOTHING I WANTED TO STEAL, THOUGH I DID SQUEEZE A BIT OF YOUR TOOTHPASTE ONTO MY FINGER, RUBBING IT ON MY TONGUE BEFORE I RETURNED TO THE PARTY. IT TASTED OF REAL PEPPERMINT, HEALTHY AND EXPENSIVE.YOU PRAY TO MARY FOR MISERY
NOW BREAKING BRO CODE
WE WERE SPANKED SOUTHERN BAPTIST
BUT ADMIRE THE AESTHETIC
AND HISTORY OF MEDIEVAL TORTURETHE WATER THAT SUMMER, THE LAST, ACCORDING TO MY CRYING MOTHER, ON RECORD, WAS TEEMING, WE WERE TOLD, WITH SHARKS, AND AS I JOINED THE GLISTENING GIRL IN RUNNING HEADLONG INTO THE WATERS, I SHOUTED, AS YOU DO, “YOU’RE GOING TO GET YOUR LEGS GNAWED OFF!” AND SHE CALLED BACK, NOT TURNING BUT JUST CALLING BACK, “YOU’RE GOING TO GET YOUR DICK GNAWED OFF!”  AND THEN WITH OUR SHINS SLAPPING WATER I SAID, THOUGH SHE COULDN’T HEAR ME OVER THE SLAP OF WAVES, “I’LL FUCK YOU WITH MY TOES THEN!” THOUGH THEN I WONDERED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I LOST BOTH MY DICK AND MY TOES, ALL TEN OF THEM, AND SAY MAYBE MY HANDS TOO, DUE TO SHARKS OR SOME OTHER GNAWING ENTITY–WITH WHAT THEN COULD I FUCK MY GLISTENING GIRL ON THE BEACH? IT’S TURNING FROM SUMMER TO FALL ON THE ISLAND; THE AIR IS CRISP. KENDALL IS SAD. AND IN THE THICKLY SILVER AND SALTY MEDIUM OF HER TEARS, A SERIES OF IMAGES FLOWER OVER HER PUPILS, AND, ONE BY ONE, ONE PER DROPLET, STAR-LIKE, DILATE—UNTIL THEY BEGIN TO LOSE SHAPE, COLORS AND OUTLINES WOBBLING AND SWIRLING TOGETHER, AND THEY OVERFLOW THE FILM OF HER EYE AND SLIDE, DROP BY DROPLET, DOWN HER CHEEK.I OPEN THE WINDOW OVER THE SINK, THE STAIN-GLASS ANGEL HANGING FROM A SUCTION-CUPPED HOOK SWINGS. I TRY TO MAKE SOME NOISE AFTER OPENING THE WINDOW, CLANG A COUPLE POTS AND PANS TOGETHER. I DROP A HANDFUL OF SILVERWARE INTO THE SINK. I LOOK OUT AT THE DEACON NOTICING ME LOOKING. I SWEAR I COULD KILL HIM.
SO IT’S NEW YEAR’S EVE AT THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY BUT AT LEAST IT PAYS WELL. STATISTICALLY, OUT OF ALL THE WAITING JOBS IN THE COUNTRY, THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY HAS THE BEST SALARY AND THE BEST BENEFITS (HEALTH CARE, INSURANCE, A UNION). SO THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY USUALLY ATTRACTS EMPLOYEES WHO ARE INDEPENDENT ADULTS, PAYING THEIR BILLS WITH THAT MONEY (CHEESECAKE MONEY). EVERYONE LIVES OFF CHEESECAKE MONEY AND BESIDES ME, THEY’RE ALL MEN IN STUDIO APARTMENTS (JUST A COUPLE CUL-DE-SACS AWAY) OR MOMS WITH CHILDREN, EATING LEFTOVERS ON THEIR LUNCH BREAK (IN TUPPERWARE WITH A SPOON)....IN THE DREAM, SHE LEANED FORWARD AND BEGAN WHISPERING STUFF INTO MY EAR, STUFF LIKE, HERE WE ARE, YOU’RE MY PATIENT, I’M YOUR THERAPIST, AND HERE WE ARE, I HAVE THE SAME FIRST NAME AS YOUR MOTHER, SAME PROFESSION AS YOUR MOTHER, EVEN LOOK LIKE YOUR MOTHER, AND HERE WE ARE, WE HAVE SPENT 45 MINUTES A WEEK FOR THE LAST THREE MONTHS TALKING ABOUT YOUR OEDIPAL ISSUES, YOUR ATTRACTION TO ME, HOW THE TWO ARE RELATED, AND HERE WE ARE, IN THE VERY MOMENT THAT WE HAVE BEEN STEADILY MOVING TOWARD SINCE YOU WALKED INTO THIS ROOM FOR THE FIRST TIME...

THE WINDOWS OF HIS TRUCK HAD ALL FOGGED UP ON THE  INSIDE. THEY COULDN’T SEE THE HOUSE. THEY COULDN’T SEE THE CAT ON THE LOG SPLITTER. THEY COULDN’T  SEE ANYTHING BUT THE EFFECT OF THEIR BREATH ON THE THIN GLASS THAT KEPT THEM SAFE AND WARM. WITH HER FINGER SHE TRACED A HEART ON THE PASSENGER-SIDE WINDOW. THEN STUCK AN ARROW  THROUGH IT.
A MAN WHOSE MIND IS NOT UNLIKE AN ATTENTION-HUNGRY CHILD SPEEDS HIS LOW-HANGING
YELLOW SPORTS CAR
DOWN THE HARBOR FREEWAY
I’M SEVENTEEN YEARS-OLD NOW AND MY DRUG DEALER, LEONARD, LIVES WAY OUT BY JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT. I HAVE A CRUSH ON LEONARD’S GIRLFRIEND, EMBER, WHO HAS FIBROMYALGIA AND GETS GOVERNMENT DISABILITY CHECKS. EMBER HAS A VOLUPTUOUS CYNICISM THAT ACTS AS AN APHRODISIAC ON ME AND A WHOLE GENERATION OF ORANGE COUNTY PUNKS. EMBER ALSO HAS CUSTODY OF HER SISTER’S TRAUMATIZED DAUGHTER, WHICH SEEMS AT THE TIME, UNFAIRLY ADULT. I CAN EMPATHIZE. ALREADY, I’VE BEEN CONSCRIPTED INTO THE ROLE OF PARENT FOR MY MOTHER, WHO IS COINCIDENTALLY, ALSO ON DISABILITY FOR FIBROMYALGIA. IN MY MOVIE, THERE WILL BE NO PROTESTS. THERE WILL BE NO SOCIOPOLITICAL INFOGRAPHICS. SORRY CLIMATE PEOPLE. A PLANET B DOES EXIST. MY MOVIE IS SET THERE.WE WALKED BEHIND A DESERTED HOUSE AND WENT INTO A FIELD. THERE WAS AN ENORMOUS MOUNTAIN THAT CAME SUDDENLY INTO VIEW AND THE WHOLE SCENE HAD AN IMPOSSIBLY PERFECT QUALITY, LIKE A BAD PAINTING SOMEONE DOES IN THIRTY MINUTES. WORDS WERE MY THING. I HAD A WAY WITH THEM. I WAITED FOR THE RIGHT MOMENT TO RECITE A POEM OUT LOUD. I IMAGINED THEIR FACES SOFTENING IN AWE, THE BACKGROUND MUSIC AND CHATTER STOPPING, AND TIME ITSELF COLLAPSING INTO THE PRESENT MOMENT. ALL EYES ON ME, FOR ONCE. ONE OF THEM WOULD SLOW CLAP AND THE REST WOULD JOIN IN. THEY WOULD BEG FOR MORE, BUT I’D FEIGN MODESTY AND SAY, “THAT’S ENOUGH FOR ONE NIGHT! MAYBE TOMORROW.” I HAVE AIDS LIKE I HAVE CANCER & MS & SCURVY & ALL THE OTHER THINGS
I IMAGINE I HAVE
WHEN SOMEBODY TWEETS ABOUT THEM
OR STABLER SAYS SOMETHING FLEETING ON SVU
& IT TAKES ME LIKE RELIGION, THRUSH,
OR I JUST HAVE A DREAM
& WAKE UP
ABUZZ WITH A NEW, HOLLOW REALNESS,
GOD-FUELED PURPOSE
TO SURVIVE, SURVIVE WHAT

RELIGIOUS STUDIES WAS HIS FAVORITE CLASS. HE TOOK SUCH PLEASURE FROM THE DRONE OF DELMONICO’S VOICE, FROM THE RAP OF THE RADIATORS BENEATH THE WINDOWS, THEIR WET BREATH WHITENING THE GLASS, FROM THE DRIBBLE OF SUN ON HIS TEXTBOOK AND FINGERS, FROM THE SAINTS’ PALE FACES PRINTED ON CHEAP, OILY PAPER, FROM THE MUSTACHES AND GENITALS DRAWN ON THESE FACES SO FORCEFULLY BY THE BOOK’S PRIOR OWNERS THAT HE FELT THEM THROUGH THE PAGE, LIKE BRAILLE, THAT GRADUALLY, SOME CLASSES, HE FELL ASLEEP. WHEN CALLED ON, MALCOLM WAS SO KNOWLEDGEABLE THAT HE KNEW EXACTLY HOW TO ANSWER WRONG.
NINE MONTHS AGO, I CAME TO THIS BLOOMINGDALES IN SEARCH OF A STEALING EXPERIENCE, PARTICULARLY ONE THAT WAS CONSEQUENCE-FREE. I DID NOT FIND WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR THAT DAY. BUT I’VE CHANGED. I DON’T EVEN REMEMBER THE KID WHO WAS BANNED FROM WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTER AND ALL BLOOMINGDALES-EZ IN PERPETUITY. AND I’M HOPING THEY DON’T EITHER.
GIRLFRIEND IS SO GOOD AND THAT IS WHY HE LOVES HER. HE IS A GREAT MAN AND HIS LOVE IS CANONIZING. HIS LOVE IS A RELIQUARY SHRINE. HIS LOVE IS THE PINK PLASTIC EGG IN WHICH GIRLFRIEND BLINKS AND DOESN’T FEEL. WHEN GIRLFRIEND IS PARTICULARLY GOOD, HE PATS HER ON THE HEAD AND SHE SMILES A BEATIFIC BABY-TOOTHED LOW-RES SMILE. WHEN GIRLFRIEND CRIES, IT IS FOR A DAMN GOOD REASON. WHEN GIRLFRIEND CRIES, SHE SHITPOSTS AND SHITPOSTS AND IT IS BEAUTIFUL AND GOOD AND TRUE. WHAT ABOUT ME? WELL I HAD A PERM IN 1984. I’D SIP ESPRESSO AT THE TABLE WITH AN AK47 IN MY LAP. “I LOVE ITALY” WRITTEN ON MY T-SHIRT, RIGHT ACROSS MY TITS. CHRISTIAN VIOLENCE, I’LL ACCEPT IT. THE GHANAIAN STUDENT HANDS IN A PAPER IN FLAMES. MY STUDENTS HATE MOBY BUT LOVE PHILIP K. I AM AWARE OF THE EFFECT MY STATURE HAS ON SOME STUDENTS. A RENT IN MY STOCKING INCREASES MY OVERHEAD. A GIBBON REPLACES THE AUSTRALIAN STUDENT. EM: BEFORE LANGUAGE, WE HAD A SUPERIOR FORM OF COMMUNICATION. AND SO I FEEL LIKE ALL THESE THINGS THAT SEEM LIKE COINCIDENCES OR WOO WOO, ARE JUST THAT EARLIER THING. WHICH IS NOT ACTUALLY LANGUAGE. IT’S PICTURES.

STC: IT’S PICTURES. THAT’S ANOTHER IDEA I FIND AN AFFINITY WITH IN YOUR WORK. THOSE MOMENTS OF NONVERBAL MOMENTS. THAT’S SORT OF HOW COOL FOR YOU ENDS, WHEN YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT THE DEATH OF YOUR FATHER. AND YOU HAVE THIS ONE RANT ABOUT HOW… WE’RE JUST MAKING SOUNDS. I COULD STILL SEE MY REFLECTION ON THE SCREEN, AND I SURVEYED THE GENERAL SHAPE OF MY HEAD AS I SIPPED ANOTHER SMALL SIP OF COFFEE AND SUDDENLY FELT AN EXHILARATING BURST OF ENERGY: I COULD START A NEW NOVEL! I LOOKED AT WHAT I’D WRITTEN ABOUT ERIC. I COULD WRITE A NOVEL WHERE I JUST TALKED SHIT ABOUT ERIC; I COULD WRITE MY OWN VERSION OF WOODCUTTERS.  WHAT COMPELS BOTH BABITZ AND LANA SEEMS TO BE A KIND OF COSMIC PARANOIA THAT THEY ARE EACH THE LAST GIRL LEFT AT THE PARTY. IT’S THE PSYCHIC SQUALOR OF KNOWING THAT YOU’VE HAD TOO MUCH, AND STILL FEELING LIKE NONE OF IT WAS ENOUGH.WE PASS A LITANY OF CONSTRUCTION VEHICLES AND CLICK BACK INTO THE ROAD. “MY RELATIONSHIP TO MEMORY HAS BECOME LIKE MY RELATIONSHIP TO ORGASMS. I REALIZE I SHOULDN’T SAY THIS TO YOU.”
I’M AN ALCOHOLIC, BUT THAT’S NO EXCUSE. I’M A FILTHY SEX ADDICT, BUT THAT’S NO EXCUSE. I’M A FUCKING PRICK, BUT THAT’S NO EXCUSE. I’M A DESPERATE IDIOT, BUT THAT’S NO EXCUSE. I ALSO NEVER KNEW MY FATHER AND ALMOST SCIENTIFICALLY SPEAKING, THAT CAN COMPLETELY BANKRUPT A MAN. WHEN LEAH WAS HERE, SHE WOULD ALWAYS GRUNT LOUDLY WHILE LISTENING TO THE WICKED SOUNDTRACK ON HER NOISE-CANCELING HEADPHONES. SOMETIMES I’D HEAR HER HUMMING. SHE WOULD SIT THERE AND HUM ABOUT THE WITCH WHO WANTS LOVE. OR WORSE: SHE’D ASK ME HOW MY DAY WAS GOING. OR FAR WORSE: SHE’D SAY IN A TONE OF VOICE THAT IMPLIES CONCERN “SARA, YOU REALLY NEED TO STOP TAKING NINE BENADRYLS AS SOON AS YOU GET OUT OF YOUR CLASS ON THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF RIGA, LATVIA. IT’S FREAKING EVERYONE OUT IN OUR VEGAN COOP.”


I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW. I WANT TO SAY THE CLOUDS LOOK LIKE A MISTAKE, BUT INSTEAD I VOW—TO KEEP IN TOUCH, TO REACH OUT MORE, TO BE BETTER, TO BE MORE KIND, TO WORK ON MYSELF, TO INHERIT THE EARTH.
HI JEFF,
THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW. I’M ACTUALLY IN LA INDEFINITELY NOW. I’M MAKING CONNECTIONS IN CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, AND WHO KNOWS HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE UNTIL THESE CONNECTIONS HAVE BEEN FORGED.
THE OPENER? DRAIN GANG. IN BETWEEN: GIRLPOOL. AFTERPARTY: KESHA. WOW. I WAS TOLD NIC CAGE WOULD BE THERE TOO AND I REALLY NEED TO MEET HIM FOR THIS PROJECT I’M TRYING TO MAKE… AND YET I HAD TO REMAIN TRUE TO MADELINE AND ALL OF YOU, YES THE FOREVER MAG CURSED CROWD. AND SO I DISPATCHED ANOTHER CLONE. AND HE’S AT THE TABLE NOW, SO LET’S CHECK IN WITH HIM. I GOT DRESSED AND WALKED TO THE FRONT DESK AND GAVE THE WOMAN IN THE WHITE GOLF SHIRT AND BLACK JEANS MY CREDIT CARD AGAIN FOR THE TIP. EXOITC FISH SWAM BESIDE HER IN A SMALL BLUE TANK. TWO SMALL TURTLES HUGGED IN A WHITE DISH BESIDE THE TANK. THE GIRL IN THE BLUE DRESS CAME OUT AND GIGGLED SOMETHING TO THE WOMAN IN THE WHITE GOLF SHIRT AND BLACK JEANS. SOMETIMES YOU LET GUESTS IN, SOMETIMES THE SNOW BOILS WATER ENOUGH TO COMMUNE AROUND A TABLE, SOMETIME’S THERE’S BREAD

LOOK, YES I LIVE IN MCKIBBIN. YES, I KNOW WHAT YOU’RE THINKING. MAYBE I LIED ABOUT NOT BEING THE RIGHT PERSON TO WRITE THIS. IT’S MY ROOMMATE'S BIRTHDAY AND I TELL MEG TO COME AROUND 11, AND THAT I’M RUNNING LATE. I’VE BEEN ON A DATE WITH A BARTENDER FROM THIS FORMERLY CANCELED AND THEN RE-BRANDED DIVE BAR UP THE STREET. SHE COMES WITH ME TO THE PARTY. “IS MEG REALLY GOING TO BE THERE?” “YES,” I SAY. “BUT PLEASE DON’T BE WEIRD."I CLOSED MY EYES JUST FOR A MOMENT AND BECAUSE THE DOPE WAS GOOD I COULD SEE MY CHILDHOOD: A BLUE ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY SIGN/THE DOG’S LEGS KICKING WHILE HE SLEPT/THE RUNNING BOARD ON THE LAND ROVER THAT I CRACKED ON MY WAY TO JAKE’S CABIN/ TOGA/ BUFFY MORGAN AT TOGA/ BUFFY MORGAN’S HAIR AND ASS AT TOGA/ THE DOG AGAIN, LICKING HIS JOINTS AND SEEMING HAPPY/ THE SOUND OF DAD SLAPPING HIS TOOLBOX IN EXCITEMENT/ THAT ARCH OBOLER POSTER IN HIS GARAGE/  THE SUN SETTING ON MY FACE IN THE OPEN GARAGE/ THE SUN SETTING/ THE GARAGE DOOR / THE DOOR CLOSING/ TO THE NIGHT/ THE NIGHT/ THE-
RELIGION MINUS THE PEOPLE
THE ONLY MAMMAL THAT GOOGLES ITSELF
THE MOLECULES THAT DECIDE THEY ARE YOU
WHO YOU THINK YOU LOVE &
WHAT YOU THINK LOVE IS
THEN BOARDED THE TRAIN ON TO BOSTON,
SLEPT BESIDE MY CHILDHOOD BEST FRIEND
BENEATH A BLANKET
PHOTO-PRINTED WITH HER FACE—
A JOKE-GIFT FROM HER OLD LOVE.
DREAMED THAT IN MY DREAMS I SAW THE FUTURE.
“LET’S TALK ABOUT ASSETS,” HE CONTINUES. “I ONCE DATED A MOVIE STAR WHO OWNED THREE BENGAL TIGERS. WHEN SHE ULTIMATELY OVERDOSED AND DIED, I FOUND OUT SHE HAD BEQUEATHED SAID TIGERS TO ME.”


PRAYER IS WHATEVER YOU SAY ON YOUR KNEES.


A BRANCH SNAPPED SOMEWHERE. THEN IT WAS SILENT AGAIN. HE HELD THE QUIET LIKE A CUDGEL IN HIS HAND. STRAINED HIS EYES TO PEER INTO THE BLACK CORNERS BEHIND THE MOSS-DRAPED STONES. HE WONDERED IF HIS STUDENTS HAD FOLLOWED HIM FROM THE CAR. BUT THERE WAS NO ONE; JUST THE CEMETERY EMPTY, THE NIGHT SILENT. JUST AN OLD MAN AND HIS LOST MARBLES AND THE WAYWARD FOUL-MOUTHED GHOST OF HIS DEARLY BELOVED BECKONING FROM THE GRAVE.ONE DAY YOU’LL HAVE WORDS OF YOUR OWN SEED-STEEPED, MILKED BY THE CURDLING WAX OF A CANDLE USED TO SUMMON YOU TO THE DIRT-FLOOR WHERE I BIRTH YOU AGAIN. MY PSYCHIATRIST SAID THERE’S A KILLER INSIDE ME. THEN, AFTERWARDS, AN ENTIRE ROTISSERIE CHICKEN.
I MADE YOUR GAME A BIBLICAL BURDEN: YOUR TOTAL SUM OF CRIMES AGAINST HEAVEN-ON-EARTH CONVERTED TO A TEST. WE WILL ARBITRATE IT HERE––IN THIS MAKESHIFT OPERATING THEATER, CENTERSTAGE AT THE OPERA––WHERE EVERYONE’S A VICTIM & YOU PLAY EVERY PART. AT THIS POINT IT BECAME CLEAR THAT I WAS NOT WELCOME AT THE TABLE. THOUGH NO ONE SAID THOSE EXACT WORDS, VOICES WERE RAISED AND THEY WERE RAISED AGAINST ME. “THIS WAS ALL SUPPOSED TO STOP WHEN YOU STARTED THE GODDAMN NEWSLETTER,” SAID JUDITH; “YOU’RE SUCH A FUCKING NARCISSIST,” SAID MY SON; WHILE THE OFFENDED PARTY, WHO SAT THERE MOSTLY INDIFFERENT TO THE SUPPOSED INSULT, SILENTLY DRANK HER CHAMPAGNE.AT THIS CAMP, THINGS LIKE ADVERSE WEATHER, WILD ANIMAL ENCOUNTERS, ILLNESS AND INJURY WERE ALL CONSIDERED INSTRUMENTAL TO THE TEENS’ DEVELOPING LIFE SKILLS. A STORM, FOR INSTANCE, COULD BE TAKEN AS A METAPHOR FOR A DIFFICULT PERIOD IN ONE’S LIFE. YOU JUST HAD TO PITCH YOUR TENT AND WAIT IT OUT.

1 CORINTHIANS 13 IS THE BIBLE VERSE ABOUT LOVE HETEROSEXUAL CHRISTIAN COUPLES LIKE TO RECITE AT WEDDINGS. THE WHY OF THIS CHRISTIAN MATRIMONIAL CURATORIAL DECISIONMAKING MAKES CLEAR SENSE TO ME.
NEEDED MY ID TO
SHOUT ALL COPS ARE BASTARDS
SPONSORED BY WELLS FARGOHE WANTS TO WATCH PIGS WITH CELEBRITY SOBRIQUETS ROUND A TRACK TO CLASSIC ROCK. SHE WANTS TO PET SHEEP IN AG BUILDINGS. THEY BUY A SAUSAGE AND SPLIT IT AND DECIDE THEY’LL GO FOR TAPAS AFTER THE FAIR. “UPSTATE SPARKLE,” HE SAYS, “WE’LL WASH IT DOWN.”I LEFT EVERYTHING
THE WAY IT WAS
PROVE ME WRONG
I’M SURE I REMEMBER
RECONCILING
MY TAKING TURNED INWARD
BUT THEN CAME A SALVE
LIKE ME
DEEMED UNHOLYSHE HOLDS OUT HER PHONE. SHE WANTS TO KNOW IF SHE LOOKS ANOREXIC. THEY’RE SAYING SHE HAS AN EATING DISORDER, BUT IT’S A STOMACH CONDITION. I’M NOT RELIGIOUS BUT I LOVE THE SIMPLICITY OF PRAYER.
"HEY IF YOU DON'T MIND. I'M JUST TRYING TO HAVE A QUITE DRINK HERE. MY FATHER'S DYING UPSTAIRS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL, AND I JUST NEED A MOMENT TO ENJOY MY MARTIN-I."FOR A MOMENT DURING THE MID-AUGHTS, MORE THAN FIVE YEARS BUT PROBABLY LESS THAN EIGHT, GAY PORN BECAME SATURATED WITH VIDEOS OF DEPRESSED RUSSIAN TWINKS. THESE VIDEOS WERE FORMALLY PERFECT.I AM USED TO SEEING INSTRAGRAM POSTS ABOUT DEAD GAY PEOPLE. HIV/AIDS MEMORIAL INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS LAY THEM OUT LIKE A QUILT, LIKE A VISION BOARD, LIKE A DINER WALL CROWDED WITH SIGNED HEADSHOTS, LIKE GRINDR.GIRLS WITH BRAZILIAN JEANS AND FAKE NAILS AND CHEAP THONGS FROM FALLAS AND STICKY LIP GLOSS AND HAIR WITH TOO MUCH GEL AND EYES COVERED IN TOO MUCH EYELINER ARE GIRLS LIKE ME. GIRLS FROM FLORIDA WITH OVERLY STRAIGHTENED HAIR WHO OBNOXIOUSLY CHEW GUM JUST TO DRAW ATTENTION TO THEIR MOUTHS AND GIRLS WHO HANG OUT WITH BOYS WHO ARE TOO OLD AND KNOW MORE THAN THEM.

A COIN TOSS HAS NEVER INCENTIVIZED
THE RETENTION OF MY SERVICES
I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW THE OCEAN COULD USE STREETLIGHTS, RISING UP AND OUT IN COLOSSAL LINES ALL THE WAY TO THE HORIZON, LIGHTING UP THE WATER LIKE A FOOTBALL FIELD. I THOUGHT ABOUT HOW THIS COULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE LOCAL WILDLIFE, BUT THAT MAYBE IT WOULD BE WORTH IT SO WE COULD ALL SEE OUT THERE INTO THE WATER AFTER THE SUN QUIT US FOR THE DAY, WHICH IT DID EARLY THAT DAY, FOR DAYLIGHT SAVINGS HAD JUST ENDED. WE COULD ALL USE AN IMAGE OF SUCH SCALE AT THAT TIME OF NIGHT. MAYBE THE WILDLIFE WOULD BE FINE. MAYBE WE COULD REPLICATE WHAT WE LOST IN LABORATORY SETTINGS. WE COULD ALL BE SAVED, MAYBE—A PASSING THOUGHT, WE WOULD NOT BE.
I SEE ALL THESE THINGS, AND EVENTUALLY THEY’RE TAKING MY VITALS, AND EVENTUALLY STILL I’M SHUFFLING THROUGH THE BREAKFAST LINE. I’M BEHIND MS. ROSA, WHO’S HUNCHED OVER HER WALKER, VIBRATING IN THAT WAY YOU DO WHEN YOU’RE JUST BONES AND MEMORIES AND A NERVOUS SYSTEM.
I’M ALREADY ANTICIPATING ALL THE TIMES
YOU WILL CHEAT ON ME
WITH YOUR EX,
W A WOMAN FROM HIGH SCHOOL,
W A WOMAN FROM A DATING APP YOU HAVEN’T YET
BEEN BANNED FROMMY MOTHER GREW UP IN A SHIPPING CONTAINER AND DIPPING HER FEET IN A PUDDLE OF MUD AND RAINWATER WAS A FAVORITE PAST-TIME OF HERS. SHE GAVE BIRTH TO MY SISTER THREE YEARS BEFORE ME ON JULY 5 1987. SHE WOULD TELL YOU NOW THAT IT WAS A MISTAKE, A BABY BRAT STRAIGHT OUT OF THE WOMB.


DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD? DO YOU AVOID ANY MEAT PRODUCTS? WOULD YOU ACCEPT A BLOOD TRANSFUSION? I WASH MY HANDS AGAIN. I LOOK HER DEAD IN THE EYE. DO YOU THINK YOU’RE SMARTER THAN ME?
WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? ARE YOU READY TO DIE?
THE NEXT YEAR A STUDENT DIED FROM AUTO-EROTIC ASPHYXIATION. I DIDN'T KNOW HIM, BUT I PASSED HIM IN THE HALLWAYS. AFTER THE CHAPEL ANNOUNCING HIS DEATH, HIS FRIENDS GATHERED IN A CORNER OF THE BLEACHERS AND CRIED IN THE ARMS OF TEACHERS. A PIECE OF PAPER WAS POSTED ON THE BULLETIN BOARD. IT REMINDED STUDENTS TO REACH OUT IF THEY NEEDED HELP. SUICIDAL THOUGHTS WERE NORMAL, BUT NOT PART OF GOD'S PLAN. FOR THE NEXT MONTH, I WITNESSED A RESTRAINED GRIEF ON EVERYONE'S FACE. I PROBABLY HAD IT TOO. HE WAS WITH GOD NOW, THEY SAID. HE WAS IN A BETTER PLACE, THEY SAID. I PICTURED HIM IN HEAVEN JACKING OFF FOR ALL ETERNITY.
WE EXCHANGED A FEW CURT MESSAGES, SUP HOTTIE? - TY NOT MUCH WBU - SAME. WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR? - LET’S HANG OUT. THEN PRESENTED SEDUCTIVE PICTURES FROM OUR PORTFOLIOS. HIS COMPELLED ME. MADE ME FEEL LAWLESS ANOMIE. I WANTED TO PASS THROUGH THE PHONE AND MAUL HIM. - HOTTTTTT - THEY WERE ALL CHARMINGLY INEPT, MOTION BLURRED, LIT WITH BARING FLASHES, BUT EVEN UNDER UNFORGIVING CONDITIONS, I WANTED WHAT I SAW, EVERY PIXEL.

YOUR THERAPIST IS NOT IN LOVE WITH YOU. HE'S JERKED OFF TO YOU, BUT HE'S NOT IN LOVE WITH YOU. HOWEVER IT'S OK AND NATURAL TO FEEL HOW YOU FEEL. AND ETHICALLY THERE'S NO WAY FOR YOU TO FUCK UP HERE, UNLESS YOU BLACKMAIL THE GUY OR MAKE HIM EAT YOUR PUSSY AT GUNPOINT.


NO NEED FOR PARADIGMATIC
GYMNASTICS. DRAMATIC. NOW,
THE AMAZON HAS BURNED OUT,
THERE IS FIVE OF EVERYTHING.
THE COMPACT ELEMENTS ADORNING
THE PLENUM, COMPLAINING
IN HETEROGENOUS FASHION OF INFECTION.




I WAS BROUGHT UP IN A CULT. THE RELIGION HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH BLOOD AND LAMBS. I WAS IN LOVE WITH SUE ELLEN. IN THE BACK OF THE PICKUP TRUCK WITH MY HAIR GOING WILD. DARK SUMMER DAYS WHEN WE’D HIDE IN THE WOODS.MOM ALWAYS HANGS A PADDLE BY THE STORM DOOR THAT SAYS:
“HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS.”
DADDY ALWAYS HANGS A CRUCIFIX IN THE BEDROOM.

WITHOUT FAIL, AS THEY SWUNG INTO THE DRIVE AFTER A TRIP ON WHICH SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN BEHAVING LIKE HER USUAL, SUNNY SELF, SHE WOULD DARKEN, BEGGING HIM TO TURN AROUND—TO RENT A ROOM AT THE CHATEAU, OR AT THE BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL. “HONEY,” HE WOULD TELL HER SOFTLY, SOUNDING WEARIER AND WEARIER, “THIS IS OUR HOUSE. WE HAVE TO STAY IN IT.”
THE SKY CLOSES UP AND THE HOT GIRL ANGEL LAUGHTER FADES OUT WITH IT. HEAVEN HAS A GOOD SOUND TECH. 'EVERYTHING' IS SO SMALL UP THERE NOW IT COULD BE NOTHING. A SPECK OF DUST BETWEEN HERE AND INFINITELY EXPANDING OUTER SPACE.
THE ROOM IS THE ROOM
THE KISS THE KISS
THE CUP THE CUP
THE EYE THE EYE
THE STING IS THIS STING
AND NO OTHER. WEDNESDAYS IT’S CABARET AND SHE’LL DO A STRIPTEASE DOWN TO A G-STRING AND PASTIES. SHE HAS THIS WAY OF PROWLING AROUND THE STAGE ON ALL FOURS, WHICH CAN GET THE CROWD WORKED UP BUT GOOD. ONLY THE BEST PEOPLE ATTEND THESE PERFORMANCES AND THEY DO IT TO SUPPORT SOFIA. EVERYONE KNOWS SOFIA NEEDS HELP AND THIS IS WHY PEOPLE COME OUT. 
YOU GOT A LOOK IN YOUR EYES, A GLIMMER THAT SAYS “I AM BETWEEN THE AGES OF 24-27 YEARS OLD, AND I HAVE THE WHOLE REST OF MY LIFE IN FRONT OF ME TO BE A PUBLICIST OR BE AN 100 POUND LITTLE THING IN THE BACK OF AN ARMORED TANK REPORTING ON THE WAR IN IRAQ.”
I LOVE MY COUSIN. AND FAMILY AND GOD AND AMERICA AND THE TROOPS AND FOX’S TRANSFORMER NFL GRAPHICS AND COLD WET BEER AND JET SKIS. MY FUCK I LOVE JET SKIS. I’VE NEVER RIDDEN ONE. I’M SCARED TO LOVE A THING. IT HURTS TO LOVE A THING, ALMOST REGARDLESS.


I GET THE QUESTION RIGHT AND A REVIEW BOX POPS UP WITH A HELPFUL MNEMONIC TO KEEP TRACK OF THE FATIGUE OF THIS CANCER, AND THE WEIRD THING OF THIS CANCER. I DON’T NEED THE HELPFUL MNEMONIC, BECAUSE I ALREADY KNOW, AND BECAUSE I ALREADY HAVE A MNEMONIC, FOR THE TREATMENT OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION: OSAMA BIN (OXYGEN, STATINS, ASPIRIN, MORPHINE, ACE INHIBITORS, BETA BLOCKERS, IV HEPARIN, NITROGLYCERIN). I’M WATCHING A LACTATING CAMGIRL RIDE HER PARTNER. SHE’S MOANING, HE’S SWEARING—THEY’RE SWEATY AND HOT AND YOUNG. SOMETIMES SHE DOES THIS TRICK I LIKE WHERE SHE SPRAYS HER MILK AT THE CAMERA. I REACH BEHIND ME AT A PILE OF USED TISSUES AND FIND ONE WITH A LITTLE LIFE LEFT.THE WITCH KING IS EATING BACK TO BACK WHOPPERS IN THE MYRTLE BURGER KING. A CASHWAD IS TUCKED INTO HIS SWEATDAMPED DIAPER AND HE IS DRIPPING DESPITE THE ARTIFICIAL CALM OF CONDITIONED AIR AND HE BITES THREE TIMES THE MEAT IN THE SANDWICH THEN UNWADS A DOLLAR AND SLAMS IT ON THE TABLE.“WE’RE GETTING CLOSE!” THE DRIVER SHOUTED OVER THE DIN. HE INDICATED FOR ME TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOW. I COULDN’T YET SEE WHY BUT I LOOKED ANYWAYS. ESTABLISHMENTS HAD STARTED TO CROP UP, PLASTER COATED INNS WITH STACKS OF SALVAGED WOOD AND STONE PILED OUTSIDE, MID CONSTRUCTION, OR DECONSTRUCTION, GLASS CUBES BLUSHING FROM PILOT POWER, UNOPENED SHOP FRONTS AND HALLOWED OUT STRUCTURES, OVERRUN WITH VINES OR DUNES. THE LANDSCAPE EMERGED AS IF FROM A LONG SLEEP.I HEAD FOR THE BATHROOM WITH A BAGGIE ALEX PASSES ME IN HIS PALM. WHEN HIS SKIN TOUCHES MINE, HE TAKES HOLD OF MY WHOLE HAND, LIFTS IT TO HIS LIPS, KISSES. I GIVE HIM A NASTY LOOK. WE BOTH KNOW HE’S NOT SWEET. “EVEN BEFORE SUCCESS, PUSSY WAS NUMBER ONE,” HE WILL ONE DAY TELL BILLBOARD MAGAZINE.I THINK ABOUT DRAWING A SHITTY ’80S WRESTLING MUSTACHE ON LO’S FACE WITH SHARPIE. “DON’T WORRY,” I’D SAY, “IT’S NOT AS GROSS AS IT LOOKS ON TV.” THEN I CONSIDER PUMMELING HER WITH A PILLOW, PRE­TENDING IT’S THE BAG WITH JAKE’S PYTHON (DAMIEN) IN IT, BUT I THINK BETTER OF IT, AND TRY FALLING ASLEEP ALSO, EYES ALL-THE-WAY CLOSED, HOPING I DON’T HAVE AN ACTUAL HEART ATTACK.


IN NEW YORK, IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYONE IS GETTING ENGAGED BUT EVERYONE IS ALSO POLYAMOUROUS, INFORMALLY. GETTING ENGAGED AT 23 IS THE NEW JOINING THE PEACE CORPS OR DOING PORN. IT’S WHAT OUR GRANDPARENTS WERE DOING TWO GENERATIONS AGO. ARE WE REALLY ALWAYS JUST GOING IN CIRCLES?...WE WATCH OUR PEERS BEGIN TO MAKE FINANCIAL DECISIONS, MARRYING FOR MONEY OR A GREEN CARD. GONE ARE THE DAYS OF BISEXUALITY AND CHEAP COCAINE FROM TOWNIES AND 16MM FILMS ABOUT OUR ADOLESCENT CONSCIOUSNESS FORMING IN UPSTATE NEW YORK. TIME TO GET SERIOUS, GET A DOG, THINK ABOUT REPRODUCING, START WORKING FOR ONE’S PARENTS.


WHEN THE BRAIN IS DEPRIVED OF
STIMULI IT CREATES
OVER 4000 DOLLARS PER DAY JUST BY ANSWERING BASIC ONLINE SURVEYSTHE SCREEN ON MY TELEVISION WENT BLACK. I WAS HAVING FUN. BUT THE SCREEN ON THE TELEVISION WENT BLACK AND THEN A SMALL MESSAGE APPEARED WHERE THE “VIDEO 1” SIGN SHOULD HAVE BEEN. AND IT WAS SO SMALL I COULD HARDLY READ IT. I WAS ANGRY AGAIN AND I WALKED UP TO MY TELEVISION SET TO SEE THE ERROR MESSAGE. “WELCOME. DO YOU WANT TO PLAY?”

ANTIBIOTICS WERE INJECTED INTO HIS CHEST ONE DAY TO OBLITERATE HIS PLEURAL SPACE SO THAT HIS LUNG WOULD ADHERE TO HIS CHEST WALL. HE COULDN’T BREATH THAT NIGHT. HIS TORSO AND NECK, THEN PARTS OF HIS LIMBS AND FACE, FELT BOTH NUMB AND SMOLDERING. HE DIDN’T SLEEP. AIR TRICKLED IN SOMEHOW.
WALKING THROUGH EAST VILLAGE A WOMAN ON THE PHONE SAYS “I DIDN’T KNOW HOW BAD IT WAS” AND NO ONE EVER SEEMS TO KNOW HOW BAD IT WASNOW MY COMPUTER WON’T TURN ON. I MEAN OR WHEN IT DOES IT JUST SHOWS THIS SCREEN OF GOLD LIGHT AND THERE IS A VOICE LIKE SOMEONE TELLING ME TO CUT MY ARMS OFF OR BASH MY HEAD INTO THE CONCRETE AND IT WON’T STOP TALKING UNTIL I TURN THE MACHINE OFF AGAIN AND HIDE IN THE CLOSET.DO YOU CONSIDER LOVE
A.) HOBBY
B.) CAREER
C.) HOLY WAR
D.) ALL OF THE ABOVE?AND THE FACT IS I AM THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOY WHO HAS EVER GRACED THIS EARTH; I AM CHALAMET, I AM LEO, I AM PHOENIX BEFORE THE NEEDLE PRICK: I AM ALL OF THEM COMBINED, ROLLED INTO ONE,AND THEN SMOKED FOR THE MEDICINAL BENIFITS; AND ALL IS WELL ALL IS HEAVEN.SHE WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. CERTAINLY NOT BY THE MAILMAN, PANTING BEHIND POLYESTER, HOLDING HIS DELIVERY LOW, BEET RED AND BOTHERED. NOR WILL SHE BE FORGOTTEN BY HER TOILET, OR MIRRORS, OR LOVING PHONE. NOR HER TRUSTY SPATULA—COLD METAL, LONGING FOR A HOT FLIP EVERY NOW AND THEN. REST IN PEACE.NOW I HAVE TO BURN
EVERYTHING I’VE ACHIEVED,
AND YOU MISTAKE MY COLLAPSE
FOR JUST ANOTHER BEACHSIDE CONDO.SOME CHANNEL THAT ONLY PLAYS MUSIC VIDEOS IS ON THE TV. A GIRL SINGS A SONG ABOUT HOW MEN ARE EVIL AND SHE SITS ON A CHAIR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DESERT. THE CHAIR CATCHES FIRE AND SO DOES SHE.
THE MAN SETS THE POLE DOWN AND WADES INTO THE WATER. WARM AS A BATH. HE CLOSES HIS EYES AND HOLDS HIS BREATH. HE FOLLOWS THE LINE TOWARD THE LAKE’S BOTTOM, WHERE THE DEAD FOX HAS SUNK AGAIN. HE HOLDS THE FOX’S SMALL HEAD IN HIS HANDS. RUNS HIS THUMBS SOFTLY AGAINST THE CORNERS OF ITS EYES AND THEN LEANS FORWARD, WHISPERING INTO ONE OF ITS EARS.

LIKE  WHEN I WAS A KID, MY MOM WOULD DO THIS THING IN WHICH I WOULD GET COMPLETELY NAKED AND SHE WOULD GET COMPLETELY NAKED. AND SHE DIDN’T MOLEST ME OR ANYTHING. I’M SORRY FOR UNLOADING THIS ON YOU. I CAN SEE YOU GOING PHEW, SHE DIDN’T MOLEST ME, RIGHT? WHAT SHE DID WAS SHE WOULD TAKE THE BLANKETS OFF THE BED AND PUT THIS SHEET OVER HER, AND I’D CRAWL IN THE SHEET, AND SHE’D BE ON HER BACK WITH HER LEGS, LIKE, PROPPED OVER HER, AND I’D HAVE TO CRAWL UNDER HER KNEE, AND WE’D PRETEND I WAS BEING, LIKE, BORN?

RIDE WITH YOURSELF, THE THING YOU WERE HESITATING TO DO, DO IT, WINTER IS COMING ANF WE ARE SOON ALL GOING TO BE DEAD. I’M SERIOUS. SO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT. LIKE REALLY, MAKE GOOD WITH YOUR MINIONS, FLOW OUT, MAKE ME PROUD.
THEY MEET
THEY BECOME CLOSE
THEY SPEND A NIGHT TOGETHER
ALEX AFTER GRADUATION TRIES TO MAKE IT MORE OR LASTING
THEY DON’T SPEAK AFTER THAT
CHRISTINE INVITES ALEX TO HER WEDDING (?)
ALEX GOES, BRINGING JACK
SHE GETS HER TIME ALONE WITH CHRISTINE
IT’S JUST AS UNRESOLVED AS IT EVER WAS
SHE BREAKS UP WITH JACK
AND DREAMS OF DIFFERENT VERSIONS OF LIFE
THOUGH THESE BEGIN TO FADE.
AT THIS POINT
SEXUALITY HAD BEEN REPACKAGED
INTO A SECRET GROUPING OF COMPLEX
ARITHMETIC GAMES.


SO I HEARD HIM OUT, EVEN THOUGH I’M BRAINWASHED BECAUSE I GOT THE VAX. I FELT LIKE VAX DISCOURSE WITH AN ACTUAL DOCTOR WOULD SERVE ME IRL.
WE CROSSED THE BRIDGE WHERE YOU SAID NOT TO LOOK OVER AND I SAID I WOULDN’T, BUT I DID, AND THERE WERE A DOZEN BODIES FLOATING ON THEIR BACKS AND I FOLLOWED THEIR LIFELESS GAZES TO THE SKY, WHERE THEY LAST SEARCHED FOR GOD IN THE CLOUDS, BUT SAW ONLY SMOKE.


ANTOINE LOVES ME. HE PIRATES ALL OF MY FAVORITE MOVIES. ONCE HE PIRATED FOX AND THE HOUND AND WE WATCHED IT AT DUSK WHEN THE CICADAS WERE HUMMING AND THE STREET LAMPS WERE BUZZING AND I WAS SOBBING, SOBBING BECAUSE I ALWAYS SOB WHEN THE FOX GETS LEFT IN THE FOREST AND SOBBING BECAUSE I WILL SOON LEAVE ANTOINE AND SOBBING BECAUSE I AM NOT SORRY ABOUT IT.
[ALEXA] BEGAN BY TELLING ME HOW SHE HAS ALWAYS HAS A THING FOR JESUS. I JOKED THAT THIS MADE ME A LITTLE JEALOUS OF THAT ANOREXIC-HOT NAZAREAN. SHE DIDN’T LAUGH. SHE SAID SHE LOVED JESUS BECAUSE HE WAS BOTH MAN AND GOD, FLESH AND SPIRIT. SHE SAID HE WAS A MIRACLE BECAUSE HE WAS SIMULTANEOUSLY BOTH HERE AND THERE. I KNEW WHAT SHE WAS GETTING AT OF COURSE, BUT WANTED TO MAKE HER SAY IT OUT LOUD, SO I ASKED HOW EXACTLY MR. CHRIST WAS ABLE TO HAVE ONE FOOT FIRMLY PLANTED IN EACH REALM? WAS HIS EXISTENCE SOME KIND OF INCREDIBLE ONTOLOGICAL STRADDLING ACT? SHE SAID, NO, JESUS HAD TWO FEET PLANTED IN EACH REALM. I JOKED THAT JESUS MUST HAVE HAD FOUR FEET THEN, THAT HE MUST HAVE NOT BEEN HUMAN AFTER ALL BUT A QUADRUPED, A CUTE DOG MAYBE, A GOLDEN RETRIEVER PUPPY MAYBE. FRUSTRATED, ALEXA SHOUTED THE ONLY SOLUTION, THE ONLY WAY WE COULD BE TOGETHER, WAS FOR ME TO DIE.DOGS DYING IN THE DRY SUMMER, IN AUGUST I WENT BACK HOME AFTER MANUAL LABOR. SCANNED /POL/ FOR FUNNY DISCOURSE. ALL MY FRIENDS ON DISCORD LAUGHING. JOE BIDEN SUCKS. MONKEY WITH A GUN IN A REBEL ENCAMPMENT, AK BARREL SPINNING, PEOPLE DODGING BULLETS, LAUGH REACT THE GIF. THERE’S NO TALIBAN HERE. NOTHING TOO BIG ON THE MIND. GOD IS ABOVE AND JESUS IS LORD. HOW OLD ARE YOU?
I HAD TO THINK HARD.
30.
THAT’S NOT WHAT YOU SAID EARLIER.
WHAT DID I SAY EARLIER?
18.I’M PUSHING WOMEN OUT OF WINDOWS, STARVING MYSELF TO WRITE, TO EAT, DOING EVERYTHING FOR ART, GIVING YOU EVERYTHING. HEROES, VILLAINS, MARTYRS, INSURGENTS.
FRANK LOOKS UP AS THE BLUE SCREEN GIVES WAY TO A SOAP OPERA. AND THE VOLUME IS INCREDIBLY HIGH AS THE THEME MUSIC SWEEPS THROUGH THE BAR. AND FOR A MOMENT, THERE IS THE DEEPEST BEAUTY IMAGINABLE. YES, YOU HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED BEAUTY UNTIL THE THEME SONG FROM A SOAP OPERA PLAYS AT TERRIBLE VOLUME IN AN EMPTY BAR. IN THE DUSY SUNLIGHT. SWEEPING AND COMPLETE.FORTUITOUS AND FAT, GOUT AND GASTRO, LITTLE KIDS RUNNING WITH FLOWERS IN THEIR HANDS, FRACTAL PEARL, SCALLOPED, AND YOUR MIND RINGS BEFORE THE PHONE DOES. CERTAIN PORCHES OF ILL-REPUTE, THE DAWN IS ORANGE IN TWO CHAMBERS AND EVERY FIFTH TRUNK IS HEAVY WITH AUTOMATIC WEAPON. THE VIDEO OF CORD CUTTING, THE ACID OF THE ER DOCTOR, WALKING STRAIGHT INTO THE WATER LIKE A FALLEN SKY.
I AM LIVING WITH OTHER MEN IN LOS ANGELES NOW. THIS IS A STEP-DOWN FACILITY. THEY MAKE DECLARATIONS HERE. THEY SAY THINGS LIKE...ANOREXIC BITCHES ARE BETTER FUCKS THAN BULIMIC BITCHES. THEY DON’T SAY WOMEN.  THEY LIKE RUB-AND-TUGS. THEY’VE GAINED WEIGHT ON ZYPREXA AND SEROQUEL AND CLOZAPINE AND DEPAKOTE. THEY HAVE POOR TABLE MANNERS. THEY HAVE BLOWHARD DADS. SOME HAVE COMPLIANT MOTHERS. THAY ARE SDSU GRADUATES AND USC DROPOUTS. THEY HAVE ACCESS TO THE VERY BEST PORNOGRPAHY. THEY ARE PSYCHOTIC UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF MARIJUANA. THEY SUFFER FROM BODY DYSMORPHIA. THEY DISCUSS THE POSSIBILITIES OF FASTING. THEY LOVE COLLEGE BASKETBALL. THIS IS ALL PART OF MY TREATMENT. WHAT I WANTED, ASKED FOR, AND GOT. BECAUSE I NEEDED SOMETHING... 

SIFTING THROUGH A PLASTIC CONTAINER OF CHILDHOOD EPHEMERA, I FIND A PHOTOGRAPH OF MY HIGH SCHOOL BOYFRIEND. WE MET WHEN I WAS 14 AND HE WAS 17. HE HAD BLACK HAIR, AND I WAS OVERWEIGHT. TO WOO ME, HE WROTE MY NAME IN THE SAND AT THE BEACH AND TOOK A PHOTOGRAPH OF IT, WHICH I HUNG IN A FRAME ABOVE MY BED. SOMETIMES WHILE I MASTURBATED, I FANTASIZED ABOUT US EATING FRENCH FRIES, THEN FUCKING ON THE SAND. I HAD NOT YET LOST MY VIRGINITY, BUT WE HELD HANDS IN MY HIGH SCHOOL’S BLEACHERS, AND CONTINUED HOLDING HANDS UNTIL HE CHEATED ON ME WITH SOMEONE CLOSER TO HIS AGE. PROBABLY SHE WAS A SLUT WHO HELPED HIM EJACULATE. WHICH, IN RETROSPECT, I WISHED I WAS.
THE FIRST TIME I DID MDMA AFTER HAVING A BABY, I WAS BROUGHT BACK TO THIS NIGHT. OR MAYBE IT WAS DAY. THE LABOR TIME. THE NO-TIME. THE ALL-TIME. THE OUTSIDE-TIME. THE TWELVE PLUS HOURS, THE NOT-KNOWING, THE FEELING TOO INTENSELY.IT WAS A SAD AFTERNOON
BUT EVERYBODY TOOK
A PICTURE.
WHAT PARTS OF YOU DID I GLIMPSE AMONG THESE BOYS? LIKE LOOKING AT THE PROGENY OF A LONG AGO LOVER BUMPED INTO ON THE STREET // SOMETHING SUTBLE IN THE FACE SEARCHING FOR THE PART I CHERISH EXCEPT, MY ABSURD LIFE, THE LITTLE JOKE OF MY EXISTENCE--I AM DOING IT BACKWARDS.
YOUR TINY HANDS WERE SO DELICATE THAT I FELT THE URGE TO SMASH ALL OF THEIR BONES WHENEVER I HELD THEM. I SHOULD HAVE TAKEN THE OPPORTUNITY WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE. THEY ARE MY FAVORITE THING, YOUR HANDS. IF I TOOK THEM WHEN I HAD THE CHANCE THEN I COULD HAVE HAD THEM FOREVER.
NO ONE IN HEAVEN HAS SURVIVED. IF THEY DESERVED TO, THEY’D STILL BE DOWN HERE. AS AM I. OR AT LEAST I’VE WORN ON LONG ENOUGH IT’S NOT UNQUESTIONABLE TO IMAGINE I MIGHT CONTINUE GROWING OLD FOR LONG ENOUGH THAT I MIGHT FINALLY COME BACK AT THE BEGINNING. AND I’D STILL DO IT ALL OVER JUST THE SAME.

I TURN AND MY ASSHOLE TURNS WITH ME. AWAY IS MORE CONCEPTUAL THAN BEING HERE WITH YOU

MY POETRY IS CARDIOVASCULAR AND VERY GOOD FOR YOU. HEALTHY IN THAT WAY THAT FAILURE IS HEALTHY. CARDIOVASCULAR IN THAT ITS SCOPE IS TO AERATE. THE NEGATION THAT COMES WITH IMMANENCE. THE BEES THAT CIRCLE A ROTTEN QUEEN, THE HEAT OF THEIR WINGS COOKING HER ALIVE.


ALEXANDER RETIRED SUPINE ON HIS FEATHERY ROOST, AND I HELD UP ONE OF THE PAPER LANTERNS TO HIS TABLET, ENUMERATING THE MANY IDIOSYNCRASIES AND UNPARALLELED INNOVATIONS OF THE FRESHLY PATENTED WEAPONS TECH. WHEN I LOOKED UP, MY WHOADIE HAD ENTERED THOSE SEIZING THROES DISTINCTIVE TO THE LAND OF NOD. CAREFUL NOT TO MAKE PHYSICAL CONTACT, I COVERED HIS FACE WITH THE GLOSSY BEAM OF THE GESTALT.
IN MY DEFENSE HE WOULD SERENADE ME AT MY WINDOW. THAT WAS THE TIME I FORGAVE HIM FOR STEALING MY LAPTOP.