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from Theo over at the stove.
From the look on his face, it must be amusement. With the addition of Gravel,
three of the four Burne brothers are present for their mother’s special
eightieth birthday party. They are only missing their oldest brother Ben.
    Theo spoons out macaroni from the pot on the stove, pours
some Ragu over it and plops it down on the table for the family. He takes a
couple of used, dirty spoons from the sink and hands them out. The four of them
sit around the beaten up plastic table and for a moment or two there is only
the sound of the spoons hitting plates and sloppy chewing.
    Then Gravel says, “Mother, in honor of your special
birthday, Theo baked you a cake.”
    “Theo,” she pets him like he’s a dog, “you were always my
favorite - after Ben, of course.”
    “Of course, after Ben.” Gravel’s lifelong envy comes alive
in the room and it’s ugly.
    Mother continues, “Yes, Theo, you were always a good quiet
kid.”
    “He’s mute,” Gravel says annoyed.
    “He’s not mute. He just doesn’t have anything important to
say. You could learn from him.”
    “I learned everything I need to already.”
    “You know, Mother,” Kent says, “all the shrinks on the
inside told me you’re not supposed to have favorites ‘cause it sucks for our
development.”
    “Yeah, so, some people prefer other people. Get used to it.”
The old woman looks around the kitchen and then says, “Let’s do this. I want my
cake in the bedroom.” Mother gets up and heads for the bedroom. The three men
each grab some cake for themselves.
    “Fried that guy at the state pen last night,” Gravel says.
    Kent answers, “Firing squad’s a much better way to go than
the chair.”
    “Nah, a good old-fashioned hanging - that’s the way.”
    Theo cuts and puts a nice piece of cake on a plate for
Mother Burne.
    ”I heard when you hang - your dick gets hard.”
    “Damn right.” Gravel grins at him.
    “Okay, so that’s one good thing.” They share a brotherly
chuckle.
    The bedroom has a twin mattress on top of the metal frame
with no box spring. The sheets are grimy. Mother Burne is propped against the
dingy pillow. Theo, Kent, and Gravel take seats on the sides of the mattress
surrounding her. Gravel has brought in his cake and he licks some frosting from
his fingers. It’s the closest he comes to washing his hands.
    Mother Burne takes a bite of cake and confirms, “Now, boys,
you know what you’re supposed to do, right? You’ve got no confusion?”
    “First, we get Ben. Then we go across Superior to meet up
with Uncle Rafe in Canada,” Kent replies.
    “We’ve always been a close family. I’d like to think you
boys will stay that way when I’m gone.”
    “Yes, Mother,” Kent says. Theo nods. Gravel hovers like a
predator.
    “Listen to your brother Ben. He’s got more smarts than all
you put together.”
    Gravel rolls his eyes and swears under his breath.
    She smacks his face. “Only idiots mumble.”
    Kent asks, “So, Mother, sure you don’t want to hang around
‘til we get Ben?”
    “Eighty’s enough.” She turns to Theo, “Son, I trust you.”
Theo’s eyes take in her words. He nods. She continues, “So, don’t fuck up.”
    Theo takes one of the pillows and plunges it down over his
mother’s face. He presses out the air. In mid-bite, Gravel looks up from his
cake. Kent leans in closer with interest. They watch as their mother begins to
flail. Theo presses down harder. She kicks. She slaps the mattress. She grabs
out into the air. She lifts her body at the hips. They watch. A long, long,
cold moment, and then the flailing stops. Wait. The old woman goes limp. Wait.
Wait.
    Kent says admiringly, “She was a wiry old thing.”
    “Yeah, well, I never fuckin’ liked her.” Gravel gets up.
“Good job, Theo.” He’s happy for the compliment. The three of them get up and
leave the room.
    “Did you know that ‘fuck’ is the only word we have that can
go into any sentence?” Kent