BooksBarbecue
Back Surrender Your Sons Save as PDF
Chapters (43)
  1. Author’s Note with Content Warnings
  2. CHAPTER ONE
  3. CHAPTER TWO
  4. CHAPTER THREE
  5. CHAPTER FOUR
  6. CHAPTER FIVE
  7. CHAPTER SIX
  8. CHAPTER SEVEN
  9. CHAPTER EIGHT
  10. CHAPTER NINE
  11. CHAPTER TEN
  12. CHAPTER ELEVEN
  13. CHAPTER TWELVE
  14. CHAPTER THIRTEEN
  15. CHAPTER FOURTEEN
  16. CHAPTER FIFTEEN
  17. CHAPTER SIXTEEN
  18. CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
  19. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
  20. CHAPTER NINETEEN
  21. CHAPTER TWENTY
  22. CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
  23. CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
  24. CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
  25. CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
  26. CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
  27. CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
  28. CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
  29. CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
  30. CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
  31. CHAPTER THIRTY
  32. CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
  33. CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
  34. CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
  35. CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
  36. CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
  37. CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
  38. CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
  39. CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
  40. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
  41. CHAPTER FORTY
  42. EPILOGUE
  43. Acknowledgments

STANLEY: We didn’t fly all the way down here to have turkey with you, Uncle Bill. Traveling during a major holiday makes sure people are less suspicious of my comings and goings. Thanks to you and Dad, I’ve got the FBI watching every time I turn my head.

BILL: Who’s running this meeting, him or you?

GARY: State your name, Goddamn it. I don’t feel well.

BILL: And if I don’t?

<silence>

Bill. My name is Bill Hannigan.

GARY: Your son is Ricky Hannigan?

BILL: What the f—?

GARY: Ricky Hannigan, who lived at 1612 Havenhurst in Los Angeles—

BILL: Gary—!

GARY: —until eight weeks ago?

<brief silence>

Is that information correct?

BILL: YES. You wanna tell me what you think you’re doing asking me these questions?

<long, phlegmy coughing>

Gare, you need a doctor. Turn this tape off!

<coughing continues>

GARY: Stanley…

STANLEY: It’s all right, Dad. Save your voice. I’ll take it from here. Uncle Bill, can you confirm the date Ricky left Illinois for Hollywood?

BILL: Your dad needs to get to the clinic, and this conversation is over.

STANLEY: Bill, I swear, you stand up from that chair and I’ll put you on the first plane to FBI headquarters. Now, my dad is strong enough to make it through a five-minute conversation. Unfortunately, he’s not strong enough anymore to run this camp. As of today, he’s confirmed with management that I am the new director of Nightlight Ministries. So…remember that when speaking to me.

BILL: Oh…“Director.” I don’t care.

STANLEY: You should. Nightlight is your new home.

BILL: Excuse me? Gary…?

STANLEY: Whatever promises my dad has made you, I wouldn’t count on them. We can’t afford to move you again—

BILL: Listen, just get me to San José. I could slip away.

STANLEY: No. I need to keep my eye on you. Those orders come from management.

BILL: And why exactly do I need to be recorded like I’m one of your pole-smoking campers?

STANLEY: In exchange for hiding you, my superiors want a recorded confession.

<silence>

And at Nightlight, we call that Expulsion.

BILL: So, if I don’t confess…I go to prison?

STANLEY: Shall we begin?

BILL: I…that night, I was drunk—

STANLEY: No. Start at the beginning. When did Ricky leave home?

BILL: Two summers ago.

STANLEY: Up and left without saying goodbye.

BILL: …That’s right.