I never liked that ending either. More love streaming out the wrong way, and I don't want to be the kind that says the wrong way. But it doesn't work, these erasures, this constant refolding of the pleats. There were some nice parts, sure, all lemondrop and mellonball, laughing in silk pajamas and the grain of sugar on the toast, love love or whatever, take a number. I'm sorry it's such a lousy story.
Richard SikenWe can do anything. Itโs not because our hearts are large, theyโre not, itโs what we struggle with. The attempt to say Come over. Bring your friends. Itโs a potluck, Iโm making pork chops, Iโm making those long noodles you love so much.
Richard SikenI woke up in the morning and I didnโt want anything, didnโt do anything, couldnโt do it anyway, just lay there listening to the blood rush through me and it never made any sense, anything.
Richard SikenI don't know where I end and the world begins. My best guess? Skin. It's the only actual boundary between the body and the world, between a body and any other body.
Richard SikenThis is my favorite part. It starts and ends here. The pebbles shine, the plan worked, Hansel Triumphant. Lesson number one: be sneaky and have a plan. But the stupid boy goes back, makes the rest of the story postscript and aftermath. He shouldnโt have gone back. And this is the second lesson I took from the story: when someone is trying to ditch you, kill you, never go back.
Richard Siken