the smell of

leather

gun oil

aftershave

a ring glistens

on his right hand

leather cuff on his wrist

amulet 'round

his neck

a gift from

his brother

the jacket he wears

hangs loosely

on his slender form

deceptively weak

already old at just nineteen

hustling, stealing

for a brother he

loves

his father will stumble into

the hotel room

in three, four days

battered from hunting

depressed

drunk

angry

he will help him to bed

(quick, before sammy sees)

because he is a good son

follows dad's orders

even when they're slurred

not quite a man; too young for this responsibility