“Or you can tell the truth,” Billie said, popping a piece of gum in her mouth and bending down to tie her shoe.                   

Firecrackers or gunshots could be heard off in the distance. I felt like that magical boy had sprinkled dust on this neighborhood but I thought too soon as a car rattled by. Everyone froze solid as a car rattled by, its broken muffler dragging and scraping the ground. Harry started cursing; he was afraid that the car’s noise would wake someone up and it did. A house about halfway up the street turned on a second-story light and leaned out the window. I prayed that he could not see

the two cars collided. I don’t think that person did because they shut their window, the light went off and it never came on again.

            The car continued up the street and the color returned to Billie’s face. Gary rolled his eyes at her. His nose began to bleed. He wiped the blood with his fingers, not caring how he stained his shirt but he cared how Benny was reacting. Benny, who was not facing us; Benny, who thought he could stare at the ground and all of this would disappear. Gideon’s crying might stop as Dennis put him on the ground to stretch his arms. I went over and sat down next to him to keep an ant from crawling on him. 

            “The truth is Benny’s always had a different kind of preference. Hell, his priorities have always been different from us, then our family! Did you know that Angel thought she was pregnant with Benny’s baby?” Gary asked, looking at me and Billie.

            Billie and I looked at each other in confusion. Benny walked over to Gideon and picked him up. He held him in his arms with care and not concern like Dennis or even me. I knew that Benny was going to make a great father someday. He ignored us and the baby began to cry. He tried placing his finger in his mouth but Gideon wouldn’t stop crying. Still, Benny never lost his patience.