His mother doesn’t understand how he could fail economics class. I laughed too often, he shrugs. He finds the word “stimulus” giggle worthy.

The sleep had been restless, full of bad dreams and strangulation by blanket. He got up to shave. And returned to bed with bloody underwear.

They heard the crash of the front door, and understood their end was near. The wildlife poured in. I lied about the underwear, he told her.