Russell Lee spat a wad of snuff into a Planters peanuts can. We sat at a picnic table in his backyard, next to the railroad tracks.
He jackhammered the ground with his right leg. “Your mom’s having an affair,” said Russ, my mother’s husband. “What’re you talking about?” I stared at his face — grayed muttonchops against skin bronzed from working under the Texas sun.
Hummingbirds buzzed past us, sucking sugar water from the cherry-red feeder. I wanted to crush them. Russ struggled against tears. “And she has AIDS.
I have proof.” His accusation rang false, but adults held secrets. Then 21, I had mine. I had met Russell Lee even before my mom did.