I give the rat my dollhouse at night. our basement has a disease. my brother brings a flashlight to dinner. mother says poor devil to the poor devil she can’t stop eating. I have my own language that in hindsight is an age gap. I am so heavy. I jump and water gets out of my way. between you and me, sister sees me coming and throws herself on the trapdoor we’ve made a game of rolling eggs over. father shares a hat with god like there’ll be something in it.