He said he once had sex in the confessional. Not when the priest was there, of course, but off hours, so to speak. I wasn’t sure how this had come up in the conversation. I was just at their table to get their order. But he was managing to tell me and the giggling older woman with him everything terrible he’d ever done. 

Tell the boys in blue I won’t go easy. I’m just gonna have one more drink, and then, bam! I’m gonna take care of some shit. 

If he was pleased I came over and bandaged him up and listened to him moan, he didn’t show it. He was lucky I got off work early that night and felt good enough to come see him, because if I was tired or if it was real late I was going home to get in bed and watch TV. But instead I came over to his place and found him on the ground outside his trailer, all bloodied and passed out.