this morning #2257.

this morning, the first crack of the shotgun made him jump. his older brother cackled at him. “relax, shrimp. what are you? a pussy?” he wasn’t sure. maybe he was? “no. i just wasn’t paying attention & it surprised me.” he tossed a tiny rock past his brother’s head & started to wonder. if he was one, how could he tell? while his brother jogged across the field to reset the line of soup cans, he sat down on a stump. stared off into nothing. absolutely everything frightened him. he lived every day certain that, at some point, someone was going to try to beat him up & if so, that someone would easily succeed. he wanted to cry. the proof was right there in front of him. PUSSY. “your turn, shrimp.” his brother held out the gun for him to take. he grabbed it but only because he had to.