Page 39 of The Corruption of Hollis Brown

Walt.

Hmm?

Why did you come here? There are a million towns like this all over America. This isn’t a place one finds themselves on accident. We can barely get one bus route down here. What are you doing here?

Walt bit his lip.

I can’t tell you yet. It’s personal. I don’t know you well enough.

Oh, fuck you. You know me more than I know you, and you know that shit’s not fair, so give me something. Anything.

Walt tapped their fingers against their knee, a nervous habit that Hollis didn’t have, and sat silently. Hollis waited him out.

I . . . I think you’re my last ride.

You thinking of dropping the habit? Hollis asked, cruel.

Walt laughed.

No, I’m just . . . I think you’re it. For me. So, I have to do the best I can, try to make amends, give you the best of me while I’m still around.

What about that other guy . . . Why couldn’t he be your last?

Walt shook their head, tapped their fingers.

Don’t compare yourself to him. You’re . . . more.

What does that even mean?

It means I’m glad it’s you, in the end. Even if you’re angry, even though you don’t know me, I don’t mind it being you.

Gore

Walt didn’t like Annie. He didn’t say anything about it, but Hollis could feel him stewing. Thinking. Upstairs-neighbor noises.

He was keeping his promise—he wasn’t flirting with her or saying anything that spun Hollis into a panic attack—but he flinched when Annie first hugged him.

Walt kept her at a distance. Didn’t talk to Hollis at all while Annie was talking to him, didn’t push back on anything Hollis wanted him to say.

It was eerie and a bit frustrating.

Hollis waited until Annie settled in to watch a movie with them to say something about it.

What’s your problem? Hollis snapped.

Nothing. It’s fine, Walt said.

It’s not fine, I can hear you fucking . . . deliberating or something. What are you thinking about?

Annie laughed at the movie and glanced over at Hollis to make sure he was enjoying it. Walt grinned back at her and stopped answering Hollis completely.

Things continued like this until she left, demanding another hug of Walt, which he reluctantly gave.

What the hell is wrong with you? Hollis yelled as soon as the door shut behind her.

Leave it be.

Soil