-
The Tin House
- Wesleyan University Press
- Chapter
- Additional Information
68 THETINHOUSE Somedaysthemysteryisfamiliar, everyshadepulleddown, notsun-wrappedorfire-thrown,that tinhouseIwalkedby,forinstance, runningasakidruns,takingastick toitscorrugated,sea-sicksurface, theblipblipblip,thinkingsolittle oftheoldmaninsidewho peedinacanandthrewitoutback. MybrotherandI,thatbit ofcruelty.Doitover.Slowthisdown. Itwasn’tmystery butchildhoodwhichneverblinks evenifthesun’stoohot,evennow whenIthinkofhimhearingus, twobratslaughing,abouttopickup thoseancientweapons,brokenoff branchesthickenough torunthelengthofthathouse straightupfromthestreet, hishearingussayisheinthere? ifweeverthoughttosaythat.Hestood quiet,notmoving,agradual thickening,onlyashapeinawindowcut outoftinoradarkness attheglassed-indoor.Hewaswaiting, Ithinknow,forittobeover,this smallinjustice.Orhewaswaitingforus togrowup,forthemomentmybrother wouldturntome—Ifeel reallybadaboutthat—bothofus finallywalkingthere,notathing inourhands,nothingtohim, lessthannothing. ...