Breaking the Fall
“I even wanted it—an end to it all.
The thing I carried was fat and heavy. I would not look at it, or let myself really see what it was I had stolen.
They’ll catch me and it will all be over.
But I reached my own backyard, and climbed upward into my own house.
“Stanley.”
A single word. I couldn’t breathe.
My father was sitting on my bed when I crawled up the slope of the roof, through the window, and spilled onto the floor. The light was not on, and he must have been sitting in the dark for a lo...ng time, because when he said my name it came out hoarse, like a voice that has been tense and silent for a long time.
Then, his voice clear and strong, “Where have you been?”
My lips couldn’t form a single word. I tried. I wanted to lie. I even wanted to tell the truth.
He grabbed me, pulled me to my feet, and shook me. He shook me hard, and it hurt. “Where have you been, Stanley?” he yelled.
He flung me away, and I stumbled into my chair, which rocked and nearly went over.
He put his hands to his face, and bent over.MoreLess
The thing I carried was fat and heavy. I would not look at it, or let myself really see what it was I had stolen.
They’ll catch me and it will all be over.
But I reached my own backyard, and climbed upward into my own house.
“Stanley.”
A single word. I couldn’t breathe.
My father was sitting on my bed when I crawled up the slope of the roof, through the window, and spilled onto the floor. The light was not on, and he must have been sitting in the dark for a lo...ng time, because when he said my name it came out hoarse, like a voice that has been tense and silent for a long time.
Then, his voice clear and strong, “Where have you been?”
My lips couldn’t form a single word. I tried. I wanted to lie. I even wanted to tell the truth.
He grabbed me, pulled me to my feet, and shook me. He shook me hard, and it hurt. “Where have you been, Stanley?” he yelled.
He flung me away, and I stumbled into my chair, which rocked and nearly went over.
He put his hands to his face, and bent over.MoreLess
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