Read Online Flesh and Bone by William Alton - Free Book Online

anything for you?”
    â€œWhat do you mean?”
    â€œI don’t know.”
    She kisses me.
    â€œYou ask too many questions,” she says.
    I guess I do. I want to know things. I worry about doing things right and I want no one to worry about pleasing me unless they’re pleasing themselves too.

Date Night
    I FIND THE edge of town where the river runs and the wetlands stretch out to the fields given over to sheep and cattle. Sometimes the river rises and the animals climb to higher ground near the highway. Today, they’re spread out over the pasture like chess pieces moving randomly over a board in the unpredictable search for grass.
    Ed and I sit on the edge of the road waiting for her father to come pick us up. I met Ed at the club downtown and she’s here to take me to dinner. This is the first real date I’ve ever had, but her car dropped its transmission and now we sit here waiting for her dad.
    â€œI’m sorry,” she says.
    â€œDon’t worry about it,” I say.
    â€œYou’re awfully nice,” she says.
    I look out at the mountains just now fading into the twilight. The trees are turning to a solid black mass. I don’t know how nice I am, but it doesn’t make sense for me to get too riled over a car breaking down.
    â€œIs it too far for you to walk home?” she asks.
    â€œA little.”
    â€œWe could call your mom,” she says.
    â€œShe’s working.”
    â€œWhat about your grandparents?”
    â€œJesus, no.”
    â€œAlright.”
    â€œSorry,” I say. “They don’t approve of girls.”
    â€œThey’d rather you date boys?”
    â€œThat would get me killed.”
    â€œReally?”
    â€œThings are pretty dangerous at my house.”
    â€œI’m sorry.”
    I shrug.
    â€œIt’s how things work.”
    â€œHave you ever made it with a boy?” she asks.
    I stare out at the cattle in the field and the sheep dotting the hill behind them.
    â€œOnce or twice.”
    â€œDid you like it?”
    â€œIt’s just sex.”
    â€œWhat’s that mean?”
    â€œIt’s just something I do. Sometimes.”
    â€œHow sad.”
    â€œI know,” I say.
    Out in the field, the cattle disappear into the shadows. I wish I could. I wish I could just fade away.
    Ed’s dad shows up and gets out of the car. He shines a light on us.
    â€œWhat’re you doing standing in the cold?” he asks.
    â€œWaiting for you,” Ed says. “Talking.”
    â€œIt’s the transmission?” he asks.
    â€œI told you there was a problem.”
    â€œJesus.”
    We drive through town. The night fragments under the streetlights. Shadows run black and sharp around the buildings. Ed’s dad drives with the caution of someone trying not to draw attention.
    â€œHave you been drinking?” Ed asks.
    â€œDon’t worry,” her dad says. “I’m fine.”
    We lean against the cushions in the back and Ed runs her hand up my thigh. Her fingernails etch electric lines in the muscles there.
    Ed’s dad pulls into the driveway. The living room’s lit, but I don’t know if anyone’s up still.
    â€œKiss him goodnight,” her dad says.
    Ed slips her tongue into my mouth and gently cups my junk with one hand, a promise of what’s to come the next time we’re together. I get out and rush out of the rain. I stand on the porch and watch the car disappear into the mist. I can still feel Ed’s hand on my groin. I can still feel her tongue darting past my lips. I don’t know what to do with all the blood rushing to my dick. I need a shower. Ashower’ll wash away the frustration. A shower will prepare me to lie in my lonely bed and dream of sex and fear. That’s the way things happen. They come and set me up and leave me to figure what they mean. I never really figure it out so I sleep and wait for the answers to come to me and I