Core. Kassten Alonso
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What happened
to Cameron? she said
Please
he whispered
The bath is ready
and her fingers plucked and plucked his hair You got to tell me she said She pushed herself against his face His tongue ached at the root from he fucked her with he tongue The cracks in the ceiling in the egg yawned wider, terror, grief, blood, birth I squeezed the shovel in my hands I dug and dug the mud because you laced your arm through mine, you pulled me close to whisper things that kill me with my need the way mud can fill a hole Running through the corn Running through the fen dragging you behind me The egg would not stand the Blackened faces sweat red tears I did what I had to do and The Cop, the cops, would they come slipping and slopping with their dogs their boiling eyes and razored rats teeth This is the Police come grinding up the fen? Come here? Eventually? To claim me?
Let’s get into the bath, he said against her skin.
His mud hair in her mud fingers. She squeezed his hair she pulled his head back.
Tell me what happened to him, she sobbed.
Let’s get into the bath.
Why won’t you tell me where Cameron is you’re his friend, she said.
He tried to reach his mouth to her pussy. She clapped her hands on his face. She shoved him his feet kicked out the back of his head gonged Stars against the tub his arm swung knuckles rapped the faucet. He choked and kicked and sat up in the riled bath. The front door opened slammed the plastic wall snapped once. Soiled bathwater burned his eyes. Mud with blackened faces sighed. He sucked his breath. He sank under the water.
4
THE POLICEMAN WAS BIG. THE POLICEMAN SMELLED LIKE LEATHER. Metal hooks and buttons twinkled on his belt. The policeman wore his gun just like a cowboy. The policeman asked for Grandma.
She’s makin supper he said.
Please tell her I’m here, little fellah, the policeman said.
Grandma went to the door wiping her hands on her apron. Grandma’s eyes was black round the edges like she was to get a spanking. The policeman had his hat in his hands. The policeman looked down at him. Grandma looked at him too. Grandma said Go play.
But Grandma.
Git.
Out the screen door bang. Pollen floated from the trees. Pollen made things fuzzy in the pink sun. He ran past the apple trees climbed under the old gray fence ran down the slope of broomgrass and wild carrots to where the rusty cars sat. He climbed inside the old pick up truck. Bits of glass hopped on the broken seat. He reached for the bent up wheel. He twisted the wheel back and forth and cussed and kicked at the pedals. Linny was a big kid Linny reached the pedals. Linny was at summer camp. He was glad for that. He twisted the wheel and hit the dead horn.
There was a noise from the old willow trees. He climbed up on his knees to look. Somebody cried over and over. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. He could not see who was over there. He kicked his way back out the old pick up. He jumped to the ground. Oh. Oh. Oh.
The pink sun winked through the black cornstalks. He pretended he was an injun brave and snuck through the rusty cars. He tiptoed through the broomgrass. He peeked around a willow.
It was Roxy. Roxy’s frizzy red hair was spread out on the ground. A man laid on top of Roxy. The two of them laid next to the corn. Roxy bucked her hips she tried to get up. The man had Roxy down. They jeans was bunched around they ankles. The man moved back and forth over Roxy. Roxy squealed and bucked and pulled on the man’s butt. The man pulled Roxy’s hair. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh.
Grandma hollered for him to come inside. Roxy’s mouth was open and her eyes shut. Roxy kicked on the ground. The man had her down. Pollen floated over the black corn. Sooner and the other dogs barked. A car started. Roxy and the man rolled side to side. The pollen floated. Sooner and the other dogs barked and the car drove up the road. Grandma hollered. Roxy cried. Roxy was looking at him.
He turned and ran.
IT WAS NOT HIS BATH DAY BUT GRANDMA MADE HIM TAKE ONE anyhow. Grandma combed his hair, even. And he had to put on his Sunday clothes. He did not see why all the fuss. Not for Ma and Pa. He did not see why everybody was so sad. Grandma pulled and tugged his tie and cussed and pulled the tie undone again. I want chocolate ice cream, he said.
They drove to the parlor. He sat on Chuck’s knee. Rob and Linny and Roxy sat in back. Grandma wore a veil. Everybody wore black. He tried to say something but Chuck just shushed him.
There was lots of people at the parlor. They all looked when Grandma and him and the others walked in. He got to sit on a sofa in front. In front was two boxes with flowers all over. And Pastor Fritz in his white robe. Pastor Fritz laid his hand on Grandma’s shoulder. Pastor Fritz bent over Grandma and whispered in her ear. Grandma nodded.
Thank you Grandma said.
Pastor Fritz went up front. Pastor Fritz’s voice was real loud. O eternal God in who there is no death and in whose presence we are called to live as immortal spirits, our thoughts turn to the loved ones whom we greatly miss. Their absence hath taken from us a treasure the world cannot restore. Yesterday our brother and sister were with us. Now they are with Thee.
Oh. Oh. Oh. He looked up. Under the veil Grandma’s chin puckered and her neck was all red. He never saw Grandma cry before.
Pastor Fritz said, The rocks endure though the centuries pass away. The ancient hills look down upon a thousand generations. The stars shine on man in his infancy and will shine beyond his little day, beyond the strength of mind to follow.
He looked up at Roxy. Roxy’s eyes was puffy red like everybody else’s. Last year Roxy kissed him on his birthday. Roxy chased him through the apple trees till she caught him. He felt all tickly and he giggled. Sh Roxy said and put her hand on his knee. Roxy wore a black dress. Her legs was all freckly. Roxy and the man laid on the ground. Roxy’s mouth opened and closed. Oh. Oh. Oh. Roxy hollered. The man turned his head. The man was Chuck.
The Lord bless thee and keep thee, Pastor Fritz said, The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift His countenance upon thee and give thee peace. Amen.
Amen, everybody said.
People lined up for Ma and Pa. It was so funny. Why people came to see Ma and Pa sleeping in those boxes. And why everybody was so quiet and sad. Chuck picked him up under the arms. Chuck had him so he could look at Ma and Pa all laid still and white in fancy new clothes.
Pa gots stuff on his mouth like Ma wears he said. He looks funny. Why Pa gots that stuff on his face? Chuck did not say nothing Chuck just set him on the floor.
Everybody went outside. Chuck and Rob and Uncle Jack and Lloyd and Bob and other men carried the boxes to the big fat black cars. Those’s called hurtses Roxy said. He watched Roxy’s mouth when she talked. It was his birthday next month. He wanted Roxy to kiss him again. His thing tickled him till it hurt. He pushed his hands down in his pockets.
Everybody piled into they cars. They drove after the big black hurtses to the burying place. The big men carried the boxes to the holes in the grass. СКАЧАТЬ