1975 Sometimes we would hide in the closet when the drunks came home from the bar. Knee to knee, we would sit, hiding, hoping nobody would discover us. Every time it was different. Sometimes there was only thumping, screaming, moans, laughter. Sometimes the old woman would come in and smother us with her suffering love. Her love so strong and heavy it seemed a burden. Even then I knew that love could be a curse. Her love for us made her cry. The past became a river that was released by her eyes. The poison of alcohol on her breath would fill the room. She would wail and grab at us, kissing us, kissing the only things she could trust. Fake-wood panel walls, the smell of smoke and fish. Velvet art hung on the walls, usually of Elvis or Jesus, but also polar bears and Eskimos. The drunks came home rowdier than usual one night, so we opted for the closet. We giggle nervously as the yelling begins. Become silent when the thumping starts. The whole house shakes. Women are screaming, but that sound is overtaken by the sound of things breaking. Wet sounds of flesh breaking and dry sounds of wood snapping, or is that bone? Silence. There are loud pounding footsteps. Fuck! Someone is coming towards us. We stop breathing. Our eyes large in the darkness, we huddle and shiver and hope for the best. There is someone standing right outside the closet door, panting. The door slides open, and my uncle sticks his head in. Towering over us, swaying and slurring. Blood pouring down his face from some wound above his hairline. "I just wanted to tell you kids not to be scared." Then he closed the door. a day in the Life It's 9 a.m., late for school Grade five is hard Rushing, stumbling to get my pants on Forgetting to brush my teeth Dreading recess The boys chase us and hold us down Touch our pussies and nonexistent boobs I want to be liked I guess I must like it We head back to class The teacher squirming his fingers under my panties Under the desk He looks around and pretends he's not doing it I pretend he's not doing it He goes to the next girl and I feel a flash of jealousy The air gets thinner and tastes like rot School is over I leave for the arcade Watch out for the old walrus The old man likes to touch young pussy We try to stay away I wonder why nobody kicks him out Things are better at home now Three's Company and a calm air Archie comics and Lego Goodnight Excerpted from Split Tooth by Tanya Tagaq All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
