When Mr. Penny woke up that morning, his head felt like a vitamin bottle (plugged with cotton). “Nothing helps a plugged head except strong tea and a long walk.” Was …

T he World Is a Lousy Person. I want that to be my epitaph. Hooman’s is At Last . . . Peace, which is idiotic; he was in perfect health when he dropped dead. …

Mom pushed me to Joey’s headstone. Then she dropped herself like a garbage bag and started bawling. I wheeled around a bit. Cemeteries are depressing. Some of the grave names …

I stayed up all night sharpening my teeth. Each tooth took—well, not too long. I was done by morning. I said goodbye to my apartment. I bit the landlady. * …

A six pack, fishing rod, a fistful of books. I pulled the motor cord. The pier disappeared. * The fish weren’t biting. I cracked open Boring War and a beer. …

They’re tedious places, hospitals. Mr. Penny didn’t have many hobbies (Walking. Reading. There was something else.) and he couldn’t do any of those at present, not without his glasses, or …