I bribed her with treats and favors. I was an altar boy. I went to confession. I did penance. I was destined to suffer in hell.

Things kept happening anyway.

I hid in the big closet with her, behind clothes.

She took off her skirt and panties and stood quietly while I got down on my hands and knees to look carefully. I touched her breasts, which were as flat and hard as my own.

We took off our clothes. We made each other turn around. We examined each other like detectives looking for a clue.

like a fist a maze of boulevards stirring thick red its black shape