Chapter 12Beulah stared at me, her breath ragged. Her thin chest heaved.
“Holy s**t, Mr. G. That guy shot you?”
I nodded.
“Yes, he did.”
“But you're alive. You ain't no ghost.”
I chuckled.
“Not yet, anyway.”
“What happened? Please tell me.”
I gave her some more water.
“In good time. If you want to hear the story, then you have to let me tell it the way I want to.”
She pouted.
“Okay.”
Krasnowicz 1925
On the first day of high school, I rose early, the image of the hulking farmer's son floating in front of me. My appetite had fled. Mama sat with me holding my hand.
“Mama, please. I can't eat anything,” I said and yanked it out of her grasp.
“I'm sorry, my darling.” She took my slight in stride. “I just can't believe how grown up you are now. First day of high school.”
“It won'
