Бойцовский клуб

           Idon’tanswer. Icountinmyhead:fivesyllables,seven,five. 

           Atigercansmile 

           Asnakewillsayitlovesyou 

           Liesmakeusevil 

           Marlasays, "Whatareyoucooking?" 

           IamJoe’sBoilingPoint. 

           Isay,go,justgo,justgetout. Okay?Don’tyouhaveabigenoughchunkofmylife,yet? 

           Marlagrabsmysleeveandholdsmeinoneplaceforthesecondittakestokissmycheek. "Pleasecallme,"shesays. "Please. Weneedtotalk." 

           Isay,yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah,yeah. 

           ThemomentMarlaisoutthedoor,Tylerappearsbackintheroom. 

           Fastasamagictrick. Myparentsdidthismagicactforfiveyears. 

           IboilandskimwhileTylermakesroominthefridge. Steamlayerstheairandwaterdripsfromthekitchenceiling. Theforty-wattbulbhiddeninthebackofthefridge,somethingbrightIcan’tseebehindtheemptyketchupbottlesandjarsofpicklebrineormayonnaise,sometinylightfrominsidethefridgeedgesTyler’sprofilebright. 

           Boilandskim. Boilandskim. Puttheskimmedtallowintomilkcartonswiththetopsopenedalltheway.