where were you, the old man asked, been lookin’ all-over…’round the house…down the street…hidin’…,picked his teeth as he sat there…just sat there…
went for a walk…
where…
a walk…I went for a walk…,swigged some water…wiped my eyes…
could’ve told me…maybe asked…
asked…
yea…might’ve needed ya’…
needed me…
hard ta’ believe…,he scoughed…,now-on…you ask…saavy…
yea pop…yea…
people think I’m some crazy old man…but…you’ll respect me goddammit…
yep… sure will…
what’s that ‘spose ta’ mean…
nothin’…absolutely nothin’…
your mom would ask ‘fore she left…got it…
uhhuh…
didn’t make a move…had her trained…you never followed suit…different…always different…
right…
the whole family did as they was told…not you…,coughed-up flem into a used handkerchief…
nope…not me…did not…
well you’re payin’ the price now ain’tcha boy…you’re the one that got stuck with me…
uh huh…
my caregiver…huh…some caregiver…I oughta take that car an’ just get outta Dodge…middle of the night…gone…
wouldn’t do that dad…
you gonna stop me…gonna take on the old man…
sit down pop…
all talk…was always all talk…
right…
you’ll see…wake-up after midnight an’ be gone…so-long sucker…
why wait…
uh…mmm….
go-on…keys are right there…go-head…
uh…some kinda joke boy…think you’re funny…
not laughing pop…
don’t think I won’t…
waitin’….count of three…I’ll take those keys and hide ’em…
you think…
1…
serious boy…
2…
fuckin’ with the wrong man…
3…
brought you into this world and I’ll take you out…
