The Truth by Ross Gay

The Truth

 

Because he was 38, because this

was his second job, because

he had two daughters, because his hands

looked like my father's, because at 7

he would walk to the furniture warehouse,

unload trucks 'til 3 AM, because I

was fourteen and training him, because he made

$3.75 an hour, because he had a wife

to look in the face, because

he acted like he respected me,

because he was sick and would not call out

I didn't blink when the water

dropped from his nose

into the onion's perfectly circular

mouth on the Whopper Jr.

I coached him through preparing.

I did not blink.

Tell me this didn't happen.

I dare you.