Adult Stories

“Raymond,” Dirk and I say in unison. “It’s just that there’s nothing we can do,” I finish. “Yeah.” Dirk shrugs. “What can we do?” “They’re right, Raymond,” Graham says. “Things are blurry.” “In fact I feel like a big smudge,” Dirk says. I look over at Raymond and then back at Dirk. “He’s dead and al...

“You guys are being total dicks.” Graham laughs. “Why don’t you just shut up or something.” Raymond whispers something that none of us can hear. “What?” Dirk asks. “What did you say?” “Since Jamie died,” Raymond finally admits, mumbling. For some reason this shuts Dirk up and he sits back, smiling, ...

“Bruce,” I’m saying. “Bruce.” He asks me about last summer. He mentions Saratoga, the lake, a night I don’t remember at a bar in Pittsfield. I don’t say anything. “Can you hear me?” he’s asking. “Yeah,” I whisper. “Is, like, the connection clear?” he asks. I’m staring at a drawing: a cup of cappucci...