Teeth

“Seven dollars and thirty one cents.” I grabbed the paper bag with the menu stapled to the outside. The delivery man took my money and tucked it into his leather jacket’s inside pocket. He wore a purple dress shirt and tie underneath. He kowtowed and left.

This egg roll is delicious. I dip it in hot mustard sauce for a little extra spice. Men can go to hell and back; you can even make it a day trip.

Rehab kept Carter alive long enough so he could get addicted to cigarettes. Carter was using his massive biceps as makeshift pillows last night. Some spoiled fish kept his stomach churning through the night.

At two-thirty a.m. I hear the television switch on.

Hermann-the-Machine has just dominated the League of Force tonight. Nothing can stop this tank-like rampage. What a tremendous display of, wait. Oh no, Oh my God! Kolossus has just stood up. – And after such a crippling blow to his...

The crowd winced and screamed.

Tracy looked over at me. She wants the TV off. She wants Carter gone. I put on my plastic sandals and go downstairs. That was when the glass started coming down.

We like to think our problems are resolvable, that a solution is achievable. Normal is just a few weeks away.

Carter’s hand was fully around one of my favorite glasses. Few things could withstand his grip. The heavy base fell to the tile floor and shattered.

“Carter!” There was a fury gushing from his mouth, his neck, his forehead. “Stop it for chrissakes.” I can’t talk with him, he doesn’t see me now. Hew was in a different place. Shit. The blood was pouring from his hand steadily now. Tiny shards of glass remained in his fingers.

Fried rice makes a fine compliment to any Styrofoam box of Chinese delivery. I pry open the soy sauce packet. Fried rice also has its price.

Now I’m trapped in my kitchen. My condo looks over a tiny creek, there is a good view from the window just above the sink. A thin line of reflected moonlight lit up Carter’s left arm. Sgt. Hurricane was his stage name. I always thought it was a terrible name. Carter thrived in spite of it.

I reached for the remote and shut off the television. Another ape-like scream pierced my skull. I know Tracy is hiding under her covers.

I put my hands out to Carter, palms up. He looks at me, finally. “Let’s go.”

The emergency room is the most uncomfortable place in the world. I was bent up like a broken ruler trying to rest on a misplaced wooden armrest. I hadn’t seen Carter in an hour now, four a.m. passed by. I tried to sleep pitifully.

I dig my plastic fork into the sweet and sour chicken. The red sauce drips from my lips.

The nurses are screaming. They flood out of the corridor in all directions. I jumped out of my seat. My back strained and my legs nearly tripped one another. I was running faster than I had in years. Only one nurse remained, she was talking to Carter in a soothing, relaxing tone. “No, you don’t understand!” I pleaded with her to run and let somebody else handle him. She never let her focus away from Carter.

The local anesthetic was already applied to his hand.

“Come this way, that’s right. Everything will be okay. Just keep breathing. In,” inhale, “out,” exhale. Carter closed his eyes and his shoulders fell slowly. Two orderlies sweep in to wrestle him down. Before the electric taser ignites Curtis swings at one of the men. The dark red blood from his mouth splashes down the wall, cutting across the teal trim.

I filed the paperwork for the hospital and the police. I said good bye to Carter and I greeted today with heavy eyes.