“He hadn’t been sure if he was supposed to fight back or just take the beating, if he could dodge the blows or cover his face or what, but it wound up not mattering.”

My classroom was on the first floor, next to the nuns’ lounge. I used their bathroom to puke in the mornings. One nun always dusted the toilet seat with talcum powder. Another nun plugged the sink and filled it with water.

“⁠If you ever start thinking you’re great or in the realm of greatness, pay close attention—that means your life is in danger.”

“⁠Anyone can see I am walking in a circle.”

“Since last summer, Falapishi has undertaken the nightly practice of waking himself with an alarm in the small hours.”

“How quickly / How thick / Midlife pools.”