Wasted and Wounded

Rich Frishman

Pioneer Press

Tears were flowing down his beaten, hollow cheeks, his mouth open and silent. His shaking hand raised those teeth until they were so close I could smell the rot. I turned my head away. 'This is skid row. A bunch of broken stinkin' teeth. I can't even get 'em in my mouth without bleedin'. And I can't eat without 'em. I got it in my hands and you can't stand to look at it.'

Rich Frishman, "Wasted and Wounded," in POYi Archive, Item #8806, http://archive.poy.org/items/show/8806 (accessed November 22, 2024).