Back Roads

Harley wakes and reflects on how his father never took the opportunity to speak to Harley’s grandfather as he lay dying. Harley wonders if the abuse his father suffered at the hands of Harley’s grandfather caused Harley’s father to abuse Harley and his sisters. He also wonders if Bonnie’s life would have been different if her parents hadn’t died in a car accident when she was young. Harley imagines that if he had known his father was going to die, he would have told him that he loved him. Harley sleeps again and imagines his sisters 20 years in the future, living in the same house. The house is falling down around them, and Misty is the only one working. Amber still dresses provocatively but doesn’t have any children due to a long string of abortions. Jody is mute and her feet are damaged by the pipe in the yard.

When Harley wakes, he sees Callie washing herself in the creek. The memory of what happened the night before comes back to him. He pretends to be asleep. Callie leaves. Harley dresses and walks back to the house. As he walks, he recalls that this is the last month of school.