“With all the dizzy galaxies hot gases dust at the speed of light neutrinos running through everything,no matter how powerful someone is here on Earththey are just as small as me to the vast greatness ofouterspace.”

“Yaicha and Darren told me that I wasthe mailman's child,and I got so angry,stalking away,hot steam in my ribs.Yaicha and Darrentold me that I was the mailman's childand now I am thinkinghow wonderful it would beto havethe mailman asmy father.”

“I'm sorry, I had a meeting"I stand behind his chair. "Liar," under my breath."You weren't at a meeting," take a breath, gain speed, bursting,"You were with Angie in the office.I saw you. I saw you. You clamp us down, you think no one knows.You hurt my brother! My sister!You hurt my friend! Small trusting prey, huh?You had to squash some weak person already in pain, thinking she loved you.You could have chosen to hurt me!But I'm not worth enough, I never am and you picked poor Angie, you were going to RAPE her, I SAW YOU TRY TO RAPE ANGIE, you fucking MONSTER!”

“Invite someone over?No.Nobody plays at my house.”

“The foam cushionson the old couch downstairsdisintegratedailyin a hush,like each of us,small flecks ofhardening puffsraining mute to the floorwhen I flop down to study.And the more the couch gets used,the less foam it keeps--somedayjust an uncomfortable frame,springs and other inner workingsexposed.Silent.”

“You've always been skinny,always will." I can feeleachreclusivebonepoke through,the bones of Embarrassment,Anger,Relief.I push some back in,but leaveAngersticking out.”

“If all this tree is from mom and all this tree is from himwhere do I grow my own branches?”