Blackouts

Night feels eternal to Nene. Juan struggles to remember the source of a line that begins with “In the Palace at 4 a.m.” (160). (The line originates from William Maxwell’s novel So Long, See You Tomorrow (1980), which addresses regret.) Juan criticizes Nene’s scant knowledge of his “fairy forefathers” and urges him to tell one of his “whore stories.”

Styled like film direction, Nene speaks of an older man (later known as Norwood) who pays a younger man, Sal, to pose in diapers. In the older man’s attic, the two undress and have sex. The title of this film, “STARVE A RAT,” appears (163). The film flashbacks to Sal sitting with a group of girls. Classical music plays as the shot returns to the attic.

Juan comments on Nene’s choice to have a flashback so early in his “film.”

In the film, the older man and Sal recline and listen to music as Sal comments on his like of surprises. The older man disbelieves Sal’s age of 19 and asks for a “terrible” story about Sal’s father.

Juan complains about another flashback, then hushes Nene’s fear that there’s “no leaving…this…” (164).

The film flashbacks to Sal and his father on the beach.