“Once I went on this b-boat with my d-d-dad in the G-G-ulf. Before he went to Arkadelphia to b-b-be with this woman who had a k-k-kennel. And we had this dog. Guess he g-g-ot it from her. A m-m-mutt. We had him on the b-boat that he b-b-borrowed from a guy he knew. And we g-got lost out in the G-Gulf. So he d-d-decided to just stop and figure things out. Look at the m-m-maps. He t-t-told me to throw the anchor over. I didn’t have to really throw it. It was hooked up to a line. You just p-p-pulled a lever and then pushed it off. So I pulled the lever and went to the side to p-p-push it off. And that damn d-d-og ran across the line and his leg got c-c-c-caught. I didn’t see it, and the an-ch-chor dropped and the dog got p-p-pulled through the hole and right into the water. I heard a crunch as he went by me. Saw him get sucked down. There was b-b-blood on the side of the boat. I yelled to my dad. He came over. He c-c-cussed me out. Said I gotta learn how to clean up m-m-messes I make. He p-p-pulled up the anchor. The dog was still in the line. His leg was g-g-going the wrong way. His head was knocked in. His eyes were open. My dad told me to b-b-bring him in.”

Jordan was looking past Addis, at an empty vase.

“I did and put him on the d-d-deck. He wasn’t really moving. But he was breathing. So my dad gave me this stick and told me to finish what I had started. To be God-sure he was d-d-dead. And then I had to p-p-put him in a bag and bring him b-b-back with us, show everybody the m-m-mess I made and give him a proper burial. So I did. Had to show him to my brother and sisters and my mother. And he made me bury him in this lot down our street. He said,’N-n-ow everyday when you walk by, you can remember what happens when you screw up.’ But in the m-m-middle of the night, I got up and dug him up, put all the dirt back, and carried him to this park a mile away. I buried him there. Under a tree. I didn’t want to be walking by him every day … . So that’s how I know about anchor lines.”

Addis was wondering what to say. Before he could reply, Jordan changed the subject.

“And, you know, she’d do more than M-m-mumfries any-w-w-way.”

Jordan stopped himself.

“Y-you should go see J-Jack,” he said and walked off.

Addis found Jack’s room. The boy was in his wheelchair, sitting by a table. On the television, a man was talking about an affair he had with his wife’s sister.

“I know what she’s going to do,” Jack said.

“Are you okay with that?” Addis asked.