Fallout (Crank 3)

SOMETIMES I SHOULD SHUT MY MOUTH

I knew bringing up Brendan

wasn’t the most tactful thing

to do, especially on Christmas.

But sometimes Kristina makes

me so mad, I want to hurt her.

It’s stupid. She doesn’t injure

easily, at least not when the slaps

are verbal. When I mentioned

Brendan, she didn’t say anything

immediately. Finally she said,

I’m surprised he came back.

Surprised he’s still alive,

actually. He ripped off a lot

of people. Even worse than

he took advantage of me.

We were almost home by

then. I slowed enough to get

a few words in. “Don’t suppose

you’ll take some responsibility

for what happened that night?”

ANGER PUFFED

From her mouth in

abbreviated breaths.

What? You

want to

blame me

for getting

raped?

Oh