The Basement: Meditations on a Human Sacrifice by Kate Millett

Author:Kate Millett [Millett, Kate]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2012-02-13T06:00:00+00:00

I GET OLD. Burned out. No man ever look at me if this goes on. Thirty-seven’s pretty close to forty. And then it’s over. They don’t have to put up with that but we do. Look at them old geezers even in church. And you see plenty goin around on the street with young gals. Or that insurance man. Nothin stops ’em, if they got two dimes to rub together they can get it up. Who’s to know anyway? They’re Mr. and Mrs. Polite quick enough. Who knows what goes on in everybody’s bedroom. I’ve had thirteen pregnancies and six miscarriages and I’ll bet I still got lots to find out. Plenty of stuff I ain’t done that other folks have. Wonder what. Even them pious ones over at Grace Memorial. Old Roy himself, the comforter. Look at him and you wonder if he’s ever had any fun in his life. Who’d give a hoot anyway. It ain’t the sex, it’s the security finally. And Dennis only gave me the sex and a black eye and then he’s gone too. I look around after that and John had gone and got married on me. Left on my own now, all them kids. Every time I add it up I can’t make it. There are just too many of ’em to feed let alone clothe or discipline or correct. And I’m tired. Sick ever since April and the miscarriage that fool doctor tellin me I’d be up and around in no time. Well, it’s months now and I sure been up and around a hell of a lot but I just get weaker. Asthma comin too. This August is gonna kill me. Just why can’t them kids ever learn to pick up after themselves, here’s the third sock I found downstairs since this morning. Off to the park, the whole bunch of ’em, blessing just to be without their noise for a while. Too close to forty now for a man and who’d ever be crazy enough to take on seven kids. Got to hand it to Dennis, young as he was, even wanted to take out insurance. Forget it. Gonna have to let that policy lapse. You’re stuck here goin it alone. Okay, but no matter how I keep at it, hatin ’em or lovin ’em, it gets past me, the work, the money, that blamed old ironin. And I just don’t know about them Likens girls, especially that Sylvia. Got a funny feelin like that she might be stealin or somethin. There’s somethin about that child. Evil. Somethin I just don’t like. Even I don’t know just what it is yet. Be on the watch for it. Could lead my own astray somehow or another. Gotta keep an eye out all the time, wait till it surfaces—but for sure there’s somethin wrong there. That fearless way she talks at you, lookin right in your eye. Don’t lower them or nothin. Like she’s never felt the back of anyone’s hand. But I know Lester whipt her, told me to, too.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.