Daddy spits. I say “what you all think about this one? He the same as them other dogs you had when you was little? You ain’t like this dog none?” Daddy says “no. I ain’t like nothin’ what can’t pull it’s own weight nor show that it’s grateful for what all you give it. The weakest thing you let close to you is a weakness inside yourself. You can take care of something what ain’t worth a damn, but is it worth it to you or the thing you is trying to take care of? Do it really want to be a burden, given a choice? Sometimes what ain’t useful just sits there. It gathers dust and draws life into itself from the people around it."

I ask “what if something causes one person grief, but another person to have happiness?” Daddy thinks “I expect if you is surrounded by people of a like mind, you’ll agree that the thing has to go. Sometimes you gotta let things go, but if you ain’t surrounded by people who think along the same lines as you, maybe they have to go too. Right along with the thing what is causing grief. What all with the survival situation we’re in up here, ain’t but one time you can fail. We is walking on a razor fence. One side is a bottomless pit, and the other is hot fire. Ain’t no room for failing up here. I know you understand. You is a smart boy. Now let’s get movin’. I ain’t got all day to sit around talkin’ philosiphrey.”

“Can I ask you one more thing, Daddy?” Daddy looks around like he’s annoyed, but shrugs his shoulders “what?” “When them dogs turned into a nuisance, what all you do to them? How you put them down?” Daddy says “we done the same thing to them all. My Daddy would hand me a hammer and a nail and would lead me outside to the one that had to go. He always chained it to a long stake in the ground to keep it from runnin’ off. That way I always knew it was time."

Momma’s leg ain’t in too good a shape, but that’s what you get when you try to escape. It’s blown up like a balloon filled with red and green paint and she ain’t stop moaning, even when Daddy fetches her a few whacks to keep her from making too much noise. We is all sitting at the table. Like a family. “Did you have a fine time in that tree?” Daddy asks her,

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“’bout as fine a time as I did when you had me in that sling like a marionette, making fun of me no doubt. How did it feel? Being a marionette up in a tree?” Momma ain’t answer, just has her face buried in her hands. “I say how did it feel?” She still ain’t answer, so Daddy gestures at me. I pound her leg with a fist and she shrieks and tries to scrabble backward away from her traitor leg. A leg that she don’t recognize that’s turned on her like a rabid animal, clawing and biting her from the inside. “Good” she’s sweating and panting “good up there and I could see the roof of the house from up there.”

“Yeah?” Daddy says “how it look? You see any holes or anything? Smoke coming out of the chimney okay and all?” Momma nods quickly, then grimaces, for any movement sends white hot barbs through that discolored leg.

“You still thinkin’ about trying to lie about my number one boy here?” he puts his hand on my shoulder. “Trying to figure out a way to escape and hurt this family?” Momma shakes her head, no. “I can’t here you. Gabe, can you hear her?” I say “not at all. She’s awful quiet. I think she’s thinking bad thoughts again. Trying to come up with some tricks.” Daddy agrees “My thoughts too! Still can’t be trusted.” Tell you the truth, I’m sick of seeing her face right at the moment. Oughta put her outside with the mutt so we can get us some peace and quiet.” He looks at me.

“Let’s get to draggin’!” I hop up from the chair and take her legs and Daddy grabs her by the shoulders. We shimmy her across the floor and out the front door. Momma makes noises inside her throat like she’s screaming on the inside. We plunk her down next to the dog and Daddy says “there! Like Gabe the boss says, and like I say, you is in charge of this mutt. Soon enough though, I want you cookin’ and cleaning and preppin’ and getting' that dog to workin’ too.

I want it draggin’ large pieces of metal across the lawn to more dignified places. If you ain’t right as rain in a jiffy, what’s the point of having either of you around?” He leans in and grabs Momma by the shoulders. “Me and Gabe had one of them talks where you explain to each other what all you think inside your heads. We is of the opinion that if something is causing too much inconvenience to others, and is gathering dust and pulling the life out of others, it needs to be gone. Torn right off the face of the planet like a picture off a wall. Ain’t that right?” I say “that’s right.”

“Fukkin’ right” Daddy says and slams the door on them both.