Once outside I’d tear through the backyard and into the 11
family graveyard. From there I’d make it into the ancient 12
stand of sixty-two oaks that my great-great-grandfather 13
Willam P. Dodd planted.
14
That night in my house, wandering completely naked 15
through the half-dark rooms, I thought about how much 16
fun it was to torture my mean old uncle. When I’d es-17
caped into the dark-green shadows of those gnarly old 18
trees, I’d get the giggles from excitement. Sometimes Brent 19
would stand out on the back porch and yell for me, but 20
he didn’t dare to wander off from the house.
21
He never told my mother about my curses though. I 22
think it was because he was ashamed at not being able to 23
control a child.
24
The night after the day I met Mr. Anniston Bennet was 25
the first time I’d ever missed Uncle Brent. It had been 26
more than a decade, and I just then marked his passing.
27 S
28 R
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I still sleep in my childhood room — in the same bed.
C 14
The window faces east and the sun streams through 15
every morning, my natural alarm. That Friday I woke up 16
with a headache and a hard-on. I’d been dreaming about 17
Laura, about how she was so excited when I’d carry her 18
up the stairs.
19
I had to go to the toilet, but I was dizzy. I wanted to jerk 20
off, but my head hurt too much for that. I made myself get 21
up and walk down the second-floor hall to the toilet. It 22
was difficult keeping it in the bowl because the erection 23
