Fallout (Crank 3)

she says. Ron knows where it is.

Why is everyone so mad at me?

I think about chiming in, and

so does Grandma Marie. But

it is Hunter who opens his mouth.

Hunter

MAYBE IT’S THE EGGNOG

I had a couple, heavily spiked,

before we sat down to dinner.

Maybe it’s just Kristina’s wide-

eyed pretense of innocence.

Whatever it is, I’ve had enough

of her acting like she gives a shit

about anyone but herself. “Look

at us, Kristina. I mean, take a few

minutes of your precious time

and really look at what you’ve done.”

My voice amplifies with each word.

“Every one of us at this table has

been hurt by you. Some of us have

been crushed—no, annihilated,

and all because of you loving yourself

best of all….” Nikki rests her hand

on mine. I stop, not for Kristina’s sake,

but because Nikki wants me to.

Autumn

HUNTER’S OUTBURST

Is completely unexpected.

The sound of yelling, so close

to me, jump-starts the race