I Brought Four Children To The Christmas Dinner He Set As A Trap

bathroom sink. He’d stared at it, then at me, and his whole face changed. Not confusion. Not fear. Annoyance.

Like I’d spilled coffee on his shirt.

He said, “No.”

Just that.

I thought he meant no, we aren’t ready. No, this is scary. No, let’s sit down. The normal kinds of no.

Then he said, “You’re not doing this to me.”

Patricia, sitting in the chair now continue reading …