9 5
k a r i j o n e s
Advance Reading Copy
“It’s like vomit,” I say.
“Shit.” Ivan’s voice changes. “Shit, shit, shit.”
The stench makes me gag when we open a door at the
top of the stairs. Inside, Des lies on his bed. A gray-green
ooze of vomit spreads from his beard and across his chest.
His breathing is short and raspy; an old-fashioned alarm
clock ticks by his pillow. When I step toward him something
crunches under my foot, and I look down to see broken glass
and a smattering of pills strewn across the wooden floor.
“Oh, Ivan, what’s he done?”
Ivan steps up to the bed and rolls Des over onto his side,
then thumps him on the back until Des sputters and coughs.
He groans loudly, and Ivan says, “Up, Des, get up.”
Des groans again.
Ivan pulls the covers off Des and bends over so that his
head and shoulders are under Des’s arm, then pulls Des to a
sitting position.
“Come on, Des, we’re getting you into the shower.”
Des opens his eyes and stares at Ivan. He tries to say
something, but Ivan says, “Come on, Des.”
My hands shake badly as I open the door wider so that
Ivan and Des can pass through and stagger to the bathroom.
The smell of alcohol trails after them, and the only sound I
can hear is Ivan huffing as he mostly carries Des down the
hall. My own breath comes out in gasps.
When they reach the bathroom, Ivan crouches down
next to Des in front of the toilet and holds his head while he
sticks his fingers down Des’s throat. Des gags and retches,
