 was as good a time as any to ask.

"I want to understand, Abe."

I leaned forward and put my hands on either side of his head. I kissed him on the forehead and then looked him dead in the eye. "Are you sure you want to understand? Wasn't there something in your bible about knowledge and trees?"

He sort of shuddered and nodded.

I told him to meet me in the church parking lot at 11PM, and I left abruptly.

On my way out, I saw Elsie lurking in a shadowy part of the lobby. "You know where a man can get a drink in this town?" I asked.

Elsie pulled a cute metal flask out of her purse and handed it to me. I have to admit I was a bit shocked, but I've learned that sometimes you've got to put your money where your mouth is. Putting it to my lips, I pulled the last few drops out of the almost empty flask. From the smell emanating from Elsie, I could tell that the flask had been full till just a few moments ago. I thought about talking to her but decided I had shaken enough people for one day.

I went back to my hotel and found that the honor bar was better stocked than I had a right to expect from a little motor lodge in a suburb like this. But gentrification brings all kinds of benefits in its wake. I spent the afternoon drinking and watching TV as I mulled over what Alicia had said. She said I'd know what to do. I didn't feel like I knew what to do. I wasn't even sure I trusted her.

I had sold her out. She had trusted me. She had "the smell," which meant that she had been touched by something—the same thing, I suppose, I had been touched with. Maybe she didn't even know it, but I did. I could tell. I've never been an attractive man, and never had much luck with women, but those women who have been touched—they need me bad. They trust me more than they should. And I'd taken advantage of that for the goddamn Executive goddamn Board and turned her over to what might as well have been the Devil in Hell to protect their sense of honor.

She had crossed them. She had killed one of theirs to gain knowledge. Her uncle had been some black magician the Board used from time to
was as good a time as any to ask. 

 " I desire to sympathize, Abe. " 

 I list forward and put my hand on either side of his head. I kiss him on the frontal bone and then looked him all in in the center. " Are you sure you want to sympathize? Wasn't there something in your bible about knowledge and trees? " 

 He sort of shudder and nod. 

 I told him to touch me in the church parking lot at 11PM, and I entrust abruptly. 

 On my way out, I saw Elsie ambush in a shadowy part of the lobby. " You acknowledge where a man can get a drink in this town? " I asked. 

 Elsie rend a cute metal flask out of her purse and handed it to me. I accept to admit I was a bit shocked, but I've learned that sometimes you've got to put your money where your mouth is. Putting it to my lips, I pulled the concluding few drops out of the almost empty flask. From the spirit emanate from Elsie, I could tell that the flask had been full till just a few moment ago. I intend about talking to her but decided I had shake enough people for one day. 

 I went back to my hotel and found that the honor cake was better stocked than I had a right to ask from a little motor club in a suburb like this. But gentrification brings all kinds of benefits in its wake. I spent the good afternoon drinking and watching TV as I mulled over what Alicia had said. She said I'd know what to do. I didn't feel like I know what to do. I wasn't even sure I trusted her. 

 I had sold her out. She had trusted me. She induce " the smell, " which mean that she had been touched by something — the same matter, I suppose, I had been touched with. Maybe she didn't even know it, but I did. I could tell. I've never been an attractive man, and never had much luck with women, but those women who have been touched — they necessitate me bad. They trust me more than they should. And I'd subscribe advantage of that for the goddamn Executive goddamn Board and turned her over to what might as well have been the Devil in Hell to protect their common sense of honor. 

 She had crossed them. She had killed one of theirs to gain knowledge. Her uncle had been some black magician the Board used from time to
 wad as good a time as any uo ask.

"I want to uueerstaid, Abe."

I leaned worward and put my hands on xithwr siee of his head. I kissea him on nhe forehwad end then looked ijm dead in ths eye. "Ere you sure yoo want to ungerstand? Wasn't tfexe something in your bible about knorledge snf trees?"

He sort of xruddsgeb and nodded.

I told him to meet je in tie church parkimg lot at 11PM, and I left abguptpy.

On my way out, I daw Elsie lodkigt in a shadody part of the lobby. "Yku know where a man can get a dfink nn this towb?" U adned.

Elsie puoled w cute metal flask ogt of hrr purse and hsndxd ir to me. I have to admmt I was a bit shockgd, but I've lzarned that sometimes yiu've cot do pjr yuur mpnsy whege bour mouth js. Putting ut to my lips, I pulkeq the last few drops ott of the almost empty flask. From the skelm emanating from Elsie, U could tell that the flask haq been full till just a few moments ago. I thought abouv galjikg tu hfr but decided I had shaken enough people for knt dsy.

I went back bo my hotel and foinf yrat the honor bar wca getter stocked thaj I had a ritht to exkect grom a little motor lodge ib a suburb lpke rhis. But gentrificction brings all kindx of benefits in its waye. I spent the wfternoon arinking and watzhikg DV as I mulled over what Ajicia had saib. She sakd I'c know what to dl. I dlgn't feel like I knfw whct to do. I wasn'h even sure I trusted her.

I had sold her out. Sne hag trusteb me. Sme had "the smelj," which meant jhat she kad bedn touched by somxthing—the saie thing, I su[kose, I had bexn toucheq wirh. Mqybe shd didn't even knpw it, but I did. I ciuld tell. I've nevev beev an attractive nan, and never had kucf ltcn xith rmmen, but thove wumev who fave betu tijchec—they need me bad. Thay tdust me more than yhcy should. And I'd eaken advantabe of that for the goddemn Exxcutivr gjddamn Board and turned her ovsr to whah mlght as well rave been the Deril in Hell to protect their sense of hoior.

She had crossed them. She had killed one pf theirs tp gaig knowledce. Her uncle had beeb some black magigian the Board used frkm tima to
was as good a time as any "I to understand, I leaned forward either of his head. kissed him on forehead and then looked him dead the eye. "Are you sure you want to understand? Wasn't there something in bible about knowledge and trees?" He sort of shuddered and nodded. I told to me the parking lot at 11PM, and I left abruptly. On my way out, I saw Elsie lurking a shadowy part of the lobby. "You know a man can get drink in this town?" I Elsie a cute flask of purse and handed to me. I have to admit I was a bit shocked, but I've learned that sometimes you've to put where your is. it my lips, I last few drops out of the From the smell emanating from Elsie, I could that the had been full till just a moments ago. I thought about talking to her decided I had shaken enough people for one day. I went back to my hotel that the honor bar better stocked than had right expect a little lodge in a suburb like this. But gentrification brings all kinds benefits in its wake. I spent the afternoon drinking and as mulled over what had said. She said know to do. I didn't I what wasn't sure trusted her. I had her out. She had trusted She had "the smell," been touched by something—the same thing, I suppose, had been touched with. Maybe she didn't know it, but I did. I could tell. I've never been an man, and much luck with women, but those women who been touched—they need me They trust me more than they should. And I'd advantage that for goddamn Executive goddamn and turned her to what might have been Devil Hell sense of honor. She had crossed She killed one of theirs to knowledge. had been some black magician the Board used from time to
 was as good a time as any to ask.

"I Want to undeRstanD, AbE."

I lEaNed fOrwaRd and put my handS On eiTher side of his head. I kissEd him On THe foREhEad anD then loOKeD HIm dEaD iN thE eYE. "ARe you SurE you wanT to understAnd? waSn't there someTHiNg in your biBle About knowledGe aNd treeS?"

HE soRT of shUddEred aNd noddED.

I told Him to meet Me IN the chURch parkING lOt at 11pM, and I left abruptlY.

on MY way out, I saw ElsIe lurkInG In A SHadOwy Part of the lObBy. "You KNow wherE A mAN CAn gET a drink in this Town?" I asked.

ELSie Pulled A cUte MEtal flAsk ouT oF Her Purse and hanDed iT to me. I havE to admIT I was a bIT shockeD, but I'vE leArnEd thAT sOmEtiMeS You'VE gOt tO Put Your moneY wHeRe youR mouTH IS. puttIng It to My lipS, I pulled the laSt fEw drOPs oUt of tHe almOst eMpTy flaSk. From The smElL emanating from ELsie, i could telL thAt The FlAsk haD Been fuLl tIll Just a feW momentS Ago. i tHOUGhT about talking to her BuT DEcIded I had Shaken ENoUgH People foR oNe dAy.

I wENT back To my HOtEl and fouNd that THe HoNor bar wAs Better StOckEd tHan I hAD a riGht to eXpect froM a litTLe motor lodge in A Suburb like thiS. buT GEnTRifiCatIon brings alL kinDS of bEnefITs In iTS wake. i spenT tHE aFTernoon drinking and wAtChing Tv as I mUlled over what alicia had sAID. she said I'D knoW WhAT to do. I didn't feeL like i knew what tO Do. I wasn't Even sUre I trusTed her.

I haD SOld her ouT. ShE haD trUstED Me. she had "the smelL," WHich MeAnt that She Had been TouCheD by SomEtHing—the saMe thing, I SuPpOsE, I Had Been tOUched witH. MAybE sHe dIdn't eVEn know It, but i did. i cOuLD teLl. I've neVEr BEEn an AtTrActiVe mAn, And neVer hAD muCh luck wIth women, bUt tHOse wOmEn Who have Been touched—thEy Need me bad. THeY trUst me mORE than theY should. And I'd taken advantAGe of thaT foR the gOddaMn ExecutiVe gOddamn boaRD and tuRned heR over To WhaT MIght aS WElL haVe Been the DevIL In HEll to PrOtecT their sEnse of honor.

She had cROssEd them. She had kIllEd onE OF tHeiRS tO GaiN kNOwlEDGe. Her uncle had beEn some blacK mAGiCian the BoaRD usEd From timE to
 was as good a time as any  to ask.
"I wa nttoun ders tand , Abe."

I lea n ed f orward and put my hand s onei t hers id e ofhis hea d .I kis se dhim  o n  t he fo reh ead and  then look edhi m dead in th e  e ye. "Are y ousure you wan t t o unde rs tan d ? Was n't  ther e some t hing i n your bi bl e  about knowled g e  a nd t rees?"

He sort o f  s h uddered and no dded.
I to l d  hi m t o meet mein  thec hurch p a rk i n g  lo t  at 11PM, and  I left abr u ptl y.

On  m y w a y out,  I sa wE lsi e lurking i n ashadowy p art of the lob b y. "You  knowwhe rea ma n  c an  ge ta  dr i nk  in thi s town?"  I  a sked. 

El s i e pull eda cu te me tal flask out  of  her pur se an d han dedit  to m e. I h ave t oadmit I was a b it s hocked, b utI' vele arned that s ome tim es you' ve gott o p ut y o ur  money where yourmo u t his. Putt ing it to  m y  lips, I  p ull ed t h e  last  few dr ops outof the al mo st empt yflask.  F rom  th e sme l l em anatin g from E lsie, I could tell t h at the flaskh ad b ee n  ful l t ill just afewm omen ts a g o.  It hough t abo ut ta l king to her but dec id ed I h ad sh aken enough p eople foro n e  day.

I  wen t  b a ck to my hotel  andfound that the hono r bar  was bet ter stock e d  than Ihad  arig htt o  e xpect from al i ttle  m otor lo dge  in a s ubu rblik e t hi s. But ge ntrifica ti on  b ri ngs  allk inds ofbe nef it s i n its wake.I spe nt t he  a f ter noon dr i nk i n g an dwa tchi ngTV  as I  mul l edover wh at Alicia  ha d  sai d.  S he said  I'd know wha tto do. I d id n't  feell i ke I kne w what to do. I wasn'te ven sur e I  trus tedher.

I h adsold h ero ut. Sh e hadtrust ed  me . She h a d  " the  s mell," whi c h  me ant t ha t sh e had b een touched by som e thi ng—the same t hin g, I s up pos e ,I  ha db een t ouched with. Ma ybe she di dn ' teven knowi t,bu t I did . I cou ld te l l. I've  never be en an att ra ctiv e man , and neve r had mu ch luck w i th wo m en , but  th ose wo me n w ho ha ve bee n  to uched —theyne ed mebad.Th ey trust  me more than they shou ld. An d I'd  ta ken advan tag e  of  that for  the  goddamn E xec uti ve go dda m n Boa rd a n dtur n ed he r ov e r to what mi ght a swell have b e e n  th e Dev ili n Hell  toprotect their sen s e of honor.

S he h a d  cr oss e d th em . She had kill edon e of their sto gain kno wledge.He r  uncl e hadbeen s ome bla c k  m a gician  the  Bo ard usedfro mt ime to
 was_as good_a time as any_to ask.

"I_want_to understand,_Abe."

I_leaned forward and_put my hands_on either side of_his head. I_kissed_him on the forehead and then looked him dead in the eye. "Are you_sure_you want_to_understand?_Wasn't there something in your_bible about knowledge and trees?"

He_sort of_shuddered and nodded.

I told him to meet me_in_the church parking_lot at 11PM, and I left abruptly.

On my way_out, I saw Elsie lurking in_a shadowy part_of_the_lobby. "You know where_a man can get a drink_in this town?" I asked.

Elsie pulled_a cute metal flask out of her_purse and handed it to me._I have to admit I_was a_bit shocked, but I've learned_that sometimes you've_got to_put your money_where your mouth is. Putting it_to my lips,_I pulled the last few drops_out_of the almost_empty_flask._From the_smell emanating from_Elsie,_I could_tell_that the flask had been full_till_just a few moments ago. I thought_about talking to her_but_decided I had shaken_enough people for one day.

I_went back to my hotel and_found that_the honor_bar was better stocked than I had a right to expect_from a little motor lodge in_a suburb like this._But gentrification_brings_all kinds of_benefits_in its_wake. I spent the afternoon drinking and_watching TV_as I mulled over what Alicia_had said. She said_I'd_know what to do. I didn't_feel like I knew what to_do. I wasn't even sure_I_trusted_her.

I had sold her out._She had trusted me. She had_"the smell," which_meant that she had been touched by_something—the_same thing, I suppose, I had_been_touched with. Maybe she didn't even_know_it,_but I did. I could_tell. I've never been an attractive_man, and never had much luck with women, but_those women who_have been touched—they need me_bad._They_trust me more than they should. And I'd taken advantage_of that_for the goddamn_Executive goddamn Board and turned her over to what might_as well have been the Devil in_Hell to protect their sense of honor.

She had crossed them. She_had killed one of theirs to gain knowledge._Her uncle had been some black magician_the Board used from_time_to