Anger Had a Name
Greetings and Farewells
He once wore the anger like a glam sword-sharp, but with jewels, deadly, but with shine.
The scar on his neck was from when someone tried to hang him, and failed.
A few people had the guts to ask if he tried to hang himself.
It was someone else, but the anger might as well have made it him.
Self-invited if not self-inflicted.
Now he carried the anger in a pouch, more souvenir than weapon.
He couldn’t imagine discarding it though he had outlived its use.
Another scar, bisecting his eyebrow, twitched when he got nervous.
He didn’t get nervous often.
Now, he was ready to shatter like a faux jewel in a toy sword tapped by a real sword.
The scar twitched.
He tried not to blink.
The boss waited for his answer.
The boss waited as though the boss would wait forever.
The answer was yes.
Yes he had lied.
Joseph Dossin was not his given name.
The scar twitched, then came to rest.
He hadn’t been asked, but he explained anyway.
Joseph was the husband of Mary, the mother of Jesus. If a woman that holy chose a man named Joseph, he must be a good man.
Dossin, well sir, Dossin was the name of the ship museum, the big freighters that slipped down the river by where he was raised. Strong. Sturdy. Impenetrable.
It seemed like a good name…sir.
But yes, he was the man with the other name. The name on his birth certificate.
Yes, he did those things on the paper in front of you. He doesn’t remember all of them, but acknowledges that they probably are not fictional, like the name Joseph Dossin.
The papers in the boss’s hand twitched like his scar.
“You never harmed a child…you never stole…but…but…I have no choice but to let you go,” the boss said.
He nodded.
He understood.
His eyebrow scar twitched again.
He wanted to ask.
It felt like he was in no position to do so.
The scar wouldn’t stop twitching and the boss remained silent.
The anger was in the pouch, tied off and he would not reach for it.
The boss’s eyes waited.
“I’m not the man who did those things on that paper. Please…if you see me on the street…call me Joseph..
***
Redemption is not expected but it’s often hoped for, even I know this. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to be seen in the present once the past is done with, J.
This is really, really good.
Loved this line! “Self-invited if not self-inflicted.”