Hello, everyone! Wishing you well on a beautiful Saturday.

Here’s a snippet from “Because of Sam,” published by MLR Press. It’s more than six sentences, but it’s for context. Martin, the main character, is remembering the night his drunken father attacked him and his sister. It’s not pleasant…

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“Stop, Dad. Please! Why are you doing this?” I said, my scrawny, eleven-year-old body no match for his height and strength. But I had to try. “You’re hurting her. You’re hurting us!”

He shoved me away, but at least he’d stopped harassing Louise. Dad picked up the beer he’d been drinking, and swallowed its contents. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve, then grabbed the neck of the bottle. “You think you can talk to me like that? Goddamn pansy. I’ll show you how to be a man.”

Dad hauled me to him with one fist in my shirt and then pushed me into the wall by the fridge. “I’ll teach you to interfere in things that don’t concern you.” And then he took his first swing at me with the bottle.

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Happy Sunday!

Here’s a snippet from “Because of Sam,” published by MLR Press. It’s from a scene between Martin (three-year-old Sam’s uncle) and Ryan (who works at Sam’s daycare center). Enjoy. 🙂

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“Any help you’re willing to give would definitely be appreciated, but I don’t want you to think that’s the only reason I want you with us.”

“No?” Ryan looked at me, and I realized what he was asking.

“We’ve only just met, Ryan, but what I know of you intrigues me. I’d like to pursue that, see where it goes, if that’s all right with you?”

He let out a breath. “That’s definitely all right with me. You don’t mind that I’m…younger than you?”

“Only by a few years, and that doesn’t bother me in the slightest. Who am I to judge, anyway? I haven’t been on a date in years, and I’m not much of a prize, myself, with my scars and all.”

“But you’re hotter than fire!” Ryan blushed. “Jesus, my mouth…”

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