Contents

Contents

De Paul Drug Treatment Center

Had them planned, changed them, and changed the changed ones.

But time has taught me my options (who knows about the next man’s?), my options, are full of fast-twitch muscles.

It won’t be an issue at all.

. . . but it’s tough when most years, most days, she looks so vintage.

You do it all once, do it all twice . . .

“Mom, don’t fret, it’s no big deal . . .”

Sooner or later we all face two options.

“That’s a good question.”

That I’ve been searching for the same things ever since.

“But what if this is?”

. . . they’ll see for themselves.

But that’s how it is for us.

That’s it, just a month?

But maybe it’s just here. In my city. Not yours.

First Zion Baptist Church

One of those places you think can save you if need be, from yourself.

Good sense says I’ve hurt her too much to keep her.

Do you know how many times I’ve tried?

What I could tell him about my Sixth Street crew.

What you got, some big old plan?

Around these parts, it ain’t but three types of men.

Can I ask a question?

You hate to think it, hate to say it.

I’m fine, I say. Let me go.

Boy, you don’t have a worry that ain’t my worry.

Man, she been trippin.

So simple—but for her not much of a care.

In the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon

They’re all I got and you know it.

I can only hope, beyond this, baby bro feels the same.

Answer A is this:

Then here I am.

. . . And we all by now should know what that is.

Got it, got it.

Fucking refuse, do you hear?

Funny you should ask.

That’s why we do business.

I need to find him.

So this, this, is why these niggers feel super.

And you don’t know what that means.

How are we supposed to do that?

Do you understand?

Don’t matter?

Investigation Report

Sometimes you have the strength to face them; sometimes you don’t.

Mom and I are alike that way.

God knows what I should say.

That’s me talking to me.

That’s all you got left?

That’s my mama, I say. My mama.

There are. There are.

Acknowledgments