Fallout (Crank 3)

I go inside, start toward

the phone, see the answering

machine light is blinking.

Why didn’t we hear it ring?

Too absorbed in storytelling?

Whatever. I hit the play button.

It’s my caseworker. This is Alice

Shreeveport. We have been

informed of your unfortunate

incident. We need to discuss

Summer’s living situation. Please …

CALL HER

She wants Dad to call her.

To discuss my living situation.

I could erase the message.

Pretend we never got it.

But they’d only come looking.

Sooner or later they would.

New blow to my solar plexus.

This time my asthma kicks in.

I didn’t want to live here.

Breathe. Can’t. Find. Air.

So what if they take me away?

Breathe. Can’t. Find. Air.

Put me in another foster home?

Breathe. Can’t. Find. Air.

Send me to a different town?

Breathe. Can’t. Find. Air.

Away from Dad. Kortni. Kyle.

Breathe. Must. Find. Inhaler.