The First Thing That Isn’t Wrong

Sirens.

Stay Close.

This one's liable to wander.

Come on, Rocky.

— just stepping out for a cigarette. — did I say that out loud? — — no, darling. — no. — you don’t need to worry about me. — — my guess is you know what time it is. — which tells me you probably need something.

Another dispatch from Scott Evers. Read for you by Geezer III.

— hold on. — — first things first. — — take a breath. — — no, don’t start at the beginning. — start at the end. — — mercy. — — slow down. — one at a time. — — how many of you are there? — — four. — well. — — that’s already too many. — — four houses too? — — mercy. — do you know the people from the houses you… entered? — — no. — not “visited.” — — entered. — there’s a difference. — — nobody hurt? — — good. — that’s the first good thing you’ve said. — — now don’t waste it. — — hang on. Can’t do this from a rockin’ chair. Rockin’ chairs are for thinking. Need something that sits still. Now. — who am I talking to? — — Bobby? — mercy. — you look exactly like your name. — built like you’d rather carry fence posts than opinions. — — you’re the one that called? — — i figured. — now listen to me. — — nobody hangs up. — — nobody leaves that table. — — and nobody starts trying to fix this until we understand what “this” is. — — i’m going to ask something difficult. — i need every one of you to be quiet. — not for me, girls. — for you. — — just thirty seconds. — nobody talk. — nobody explain. — nobody defend yourself. — just… — sit there. — — good. — — listen to that. — — hear anything? — — neither do i. — that’s because panic talks louder than just about everything. — — because just talking to you girls… — puts me in a predicament. — — part of me wants to tell you girls to deal with your own mess. — hang up. … — and i might even be right. — another part of me wants to help. … Which sounds admirable… until helping starts looking an awful lot like helping you get away with it. Mercy. Funny thing. Some conversations make you responsible before you’ve agreed to anything. — — alright. — who’s sitting there with you? — — don’t everybody answer. — — Bobby, you’re nearest the phone. — point. — one at a time. — — Ella. — well. — haven’t heard from you in a month. — — Jillian. — i figured you’d be there. — — and Aniq. — mercy. — i still don’t know where your daddy came up with that name. — — alright. — now we’re getting somewhere. — — Bobby. — whose idea was this? — — no. — i didn’t ask who went first. — i asked whose idea it was. — — yours? — — well. — — that’s honest. — — and the rest of you said yes? — — every one of you? — — funny thing. — aren’t groups remarkable that way. — everybody owns five percent. — somehow nobody owns a hundred. — — now tell me something else. — — why these houses? — — no. — don’t tell me what they did. — tell me why you picked them. — — Bobby… — let her answer. — — Ella. — you’ll get your turn. — — alright. — go ahead. — — “full of shit.” — — that’s the phrase you used? — — mercy. — — that’s a mighty broad category. — — how old are you now? — — well. — i remember nineteen. — i knew just about everything too. — — except the things worth knowing. — — hold on. — Jillian. — don’t apologize for her. — she’ll do that herself if she ever decides she ought to. — — and Aniq… — are you crying? — — don’t tell me you’re fine. — i’ve buried enough “i’m fines” to recognize one. — — Bobby. — where’d you get the idea these people deserved this? — — no. — i’m not asking where you heard it. — i’m asking where you became certain. — … — — your Uncle Jamey finally gets himself pointed in the right direction… — and here you four come. — — what’s going on in this family? … — Bobby. — i know that tone. — you’ve had it since you were about twelve. — you get an idea in your head… — and before long everybody else can see it too. — — that’s a gift. — — don’t confuse it with being right. … — what’s on the table? — — no. — don’t tell me “stuff.” — tell me. … — jewelry. — — electronics. … — cash too? … — mercy. … — what’s that? … — a ceramic pelican? … — Bobby… … — well. — that’s the worst burglar i’ve ever met. … — alright. — two things. — we’re getting off this phone. — — you’re going to sit there… — and think. — don’t fix anything yet. — just think. — — and i’m going to do the same. — — no. — i’m not calling anybody. — not yet. — — yes, Bobby. — that’s exactly what i’m trying to figure out. — — alright. — don’t go anywhere. — i’ll call you back.

...

What do you think, Rocky?

...

Mellifluous.

Everybody wants to know the right thing.

Trouble is...

Most nights you don't find the right thing.

You just find the first thing that isn't wrong.

...

Lord help us.