Boy Swallows Universe

by Trent Dalton

It’s about the ups and downs of life. The downside is life is short and has to end. The upside is it comes with bread, wine and books.

‘You ever wonder why you cry so easy, Eli?’ ‘Because I’m a pussy.’ ‘You’re not a pussy. Don’t you ever be ashamed of crying. You cry because you give a shit. Don’t ever be ashamed of giving a shit. Too many people in this world are too scared to cry because they’re too scared to give a shit.’

‘I’m a good man,’ Slim says. ‘But I’m a bad man too. And that’s like all men, kid. We all got a bit o’ good and a bit o’ bad in us. The tricky part is learnin’ how to be good all the time and bad none of the time. Some of us get that right. Most of us don’t.’

‘I think he’s read them all.’ ‘That’s impossible,’ I say. ‘I don’t know,’ August says. ‘All he does is read. And drink.’