manhole
tender_square
it's
not
a
scratch
,
it's
a
scar
,
she
said
,
touching
the
upper lid
of
her
right
eye
.
my
father
had
me
hoisted
on
his
shoulders
.
i
was
two
years
old
,
and
he
was
a
big
drinker.
she
paused
to
take
a
swig
of
the
spirit
on
the
table
before
her
.
she
continued.
he
dropped
me
,
and
i
landed
on
a
manhole
cover
.
a
smart
-ass
at
the
table
joked
that
this
was
why
she
worked
in
construction
now
,
and
the
table
erupted
in
jeers.
230609
what's it to you?
who
go
blather
from