A Million Little Pieces by James Frey

Author:James Frey
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780307276902
Publisher: Random House of Canada
Published: 2005-09-22T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 14

A man selling hair-growth products screams buy buy buy it'll grow grow grow. The head of hair that you've always dreamed of. I can give it to you if you buy buy buy it'll grow grow grow. He is standing on a beach. There are beautiful blondes on each of his arms. He is wearing a cheap suit.

I turn him off. I walk to my Room and I open the door. I step inside. Miles is awake, sitting on his bed. He is reading the Bible. He nods to me and I nod to him. I climb into my bed and I settle beneath the blankets and I curl into myself.

I wake up. There is gray light through the window I squint to avoid it. The first thought I have is of my Parents. I'm fucking pissed.

I get out bed, shower, shave, brush my teeth. The mirror, myself, my eyes, they are not a consideration today. Not even close.

As I get dressed, Miles walks in carrying two cups of coffee. He hands one of them to me.

I brought you a cup of coffee.

Thanks.

You like it black, right?

Yeah.

I take a sip, set the mug on the nightstand next to my bed, continue dressing.

Miles walks to his bed and he sits down and he speaks.

I appreciate you allowing me to have the Room yesterday.

Don't mention it.

I was grappling with some things.

You all right now?

I'm better.

There is dense silence. A moment. Miles looks down at the floor, back at me.

It was shame, James.

What?

I am dealing with feelings of great shame, James. That's why I was in here all day yesterday. It was shame.

You ever need someone to talk about it, I'll do my best.

Thank you, James. I know you will.

I finish dressing, sit down on my bed. Miles is staring at the floor.

You okay?

He nods.

He does not look okay.

I stand, walk over to him, sit down on his bed, put my arms around him, hug him. He hugs me back strong and I can feel the shame coming through his arms. I am a Criminal and he is a Judge and I am white and he is black, but at this moment none of that matters. He is a man who needs a friend and I can be his friend. I wait for him to release me, wait for him to get rid of whatever it is, and after a couple of long minutes he does. I stand and I speak.

You need anything, come find me. I'm not good for much, but I'll do my best.

He nods.

Thank you, James.

I walk out of the Room and into the Hall and the Hall brings back my anger. Anger because my Parents are here. Anger because I don't want to see them. I walk into the Unit and I go to do the coffee, but the coffee has been done. I look at the Job Board. The space next to my name reads Family. I leave the Unit and I walk to the Dining Hall. I get a tray, a plate, a breakfast burrito.

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