The Man in My Basement

brary. The judge found me guilty. I was convicted, sen-16

tenced, and put into Bennet’s cell. But it was much 17

smaller than nine by nine, more like three by three. I 18

couldn’t stand up and there was barely any light. A wave 19

of despair so profound went through me that I was stand-20

ing next to the bed before I came awake. I wanted to run.

21

I wanted to cry. I definitely wanted Anniston Bennet out 22

of my life.

23

I roamed the rooms of the house after that, going from 24

floor to floor trying to figure out how I could beat this 25

thing. I wanted a drink but my stomach and intestines 26

were roiling. I couldn’t even make out words in the books 27 S

I paged through.

28 R

I was up in the old fortress, my mother’s sewing room, 128

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The Man in My Basement

when the sun hit my great-grandfather’s old oaks. Amber, 1

orange, a hint of yellow, and deep-blue strips made the 2

horizon line. They were the colors of majesty’s approach.

3

I was arrested by the promise of morning light. I imag-4

ined those deer I had seen all dewy and shivering in the 5

morning chill. The night was behind them, and if the air 6

smelled clean and clear of danger, they marked another 7

night gone with hunger and thirst for the next.

8

I awoke with my head on a bag of pieces my mother 9

kept for quilting. The sun was hot on my ear and my own 10

loud breath was like a wind tunnel.

11

Outside the granite headstones stood in the high weeds 12

like soldiers hunkering down in the grass before a morning 13

assault. My mother spoke to me then. “You should cut 14

those weeds,” she said as clearly as if she were still alive. It 15

was the first time I had ever imagined hearing her voice.

16

“Yes, ma’am,” I said.

17

I showered and shaved, brushed and ironed. Anniston 18

Bennet’s breakfast — a boiled egg, cornflakes, and apple 19

juice — was ready at 9:23.

20

When I opened the hatch, a scent assailed me. It wasn’t 21

strong but it was living — the man in my basement tak-22

ing ownership with his spoor.

23