I get the 2 interpretations (pregnancy and a break-up) but I think it works slightly better with the first. Here's what I think:
He gets a call while asleep or stoned (concrete hands) and doesn't immediately recognize the caller
She tells him she's pregnant (quiet terror news)
He says he doesn't care what she does with the pregnancy - keep it, adopt it, abort it.
But then she says one more thing and then he cares (all she has to do is speak; mouthpiece to cheek; please say no more)... THEN ... he's on the ground crying (wet concrete) whatever she has said has caused him to fall down literally and figuratively (her name...was just a stuttered step you hear when you are falling down).
I think she told him she is keeping the baby. I think that is why he suddenly cares. Also it fits with "killing time won't stop this crime/crying" - No amount of killing time by getting drunk, stoned etc will make an impending baby go away. In fact it will just make the birth come faster.
So then he decides he really SHOULD grow up for the baby. "You better start watching what message that you send now" because there will be a baby watching everything you do. "No more situations I only go in to be kicked out" - no more failing on purpose or quitting an opportunity first to prevent yourself from failing because now you have to succeed because you have a baby on the way.
But he doesn't think he is capable of growing up. He's only capable of getting knocked down. He remembers the girl on the phone saying "You're just fine, You'll be just fine"; as in, you will be a good dad, it will all be okay. But he doesn't believe it. He thinks this is a lie to hide the crime that he committed, namely bringing a baby into the world with him as the father.
What do others think of this annalysis? It get's a little wonky with the paragraph about getting clotheslined, but otherwise it might work.
If I'm right it begs the question: is this a fiction or is there an secret baby elliott out there. Just kidding.
I get the 2 interpretations (pregnancy and a break-up) but I think it works slightly better with the first. Here's what I think:
What do others think of this annalysis? It get's a little wonky with the paragraph about getting clotheslined, but otherwise it might work.
If I'm right it begs the question: is this a fiction or is there an secret baby elliott out there. Just kidding.