HE KNOCKED her front door, and then she came out and stood in front of him. She looked down at the dog. It huffed.
Whose dog? she said.
Mine.
It’s a mutt.
You shut up.
They were quiet for a while. The dog nosed the porch, lay down a few feet away and put its head at its front feet.
Wayne, she said.
Who?
My man.
Oh.
He’s going to find you. I’m sorry
What’s that mean?
It means I’m sorry.
Does me no fucking good.
He’s mean.
I know he’s mean.
He’s big.
Alright.
I mean it. I had to tell him. I was scared. He came at me, stood me against the wall in my room.
Kick his balls.
He said he’s going to get you for kissing on me.
You were kissing on me.
I know.
You should make plans.
How should we end this?
You pick.
She closed the door. He stood and looked at it awhile. He called the dog over. He thought of nuclear warheads, just below the dirt, winter drowned plains.