i always thought of this as someone the narrator knew was convicted of a crime, something big but secretive, considering it caused a lot of uncomfortable tension and attention, but not something the wife knew about. I personally always imagined maybe child pornography, and the narrator was possibly a victim, considering the narrator wouldnt want to talk about it (can we please get this over with) and is uncomfortable with and doesn't wanna get too involved with the situation (dont ask questions, keep your head down, learn your lesson). But he also is upset with the unfair way society works to privilege those who are already privileged, and he knows that no matter what he's seen or testifies, it really won't matter in the end (cause no one with money ever goes to jail). Cause there's never any real justice for the situation, the narrator is just constantly haunted and tormented and affected by what he's been through (mark it on a calendar and walk away, forget the stories forget the pain, they mean nothing to you well they mean nothing to me, but the memories wont let me be). Something like child molestation/pornography will scar someone for life and have a lot of after effects, which is maybe why the narrator shaves his head and goes to rehab (maybe from getting caught up in drugs to cope). I have no clue if any of this is right or if it's what Brian Sella was trying to say, but to me, it seems like it's about the victim of some sort of scandal, leaving the narrator affected for life.
i always thought of this as someone the narrator knew was convicted of a crime, something big but secretive, considering it caused a lot of uncomfortable tension and attention, but not something the wife knew about. I personally always imagined maybe child pornography, and the narrator was possibly a victim, considering the narrator wouldnt want to talk about it (can we please get this over with) and is uncomfortable with and doesn't wanna get too involved with the situation (dont ask questions, keep your head down, learn your lesson). But he also is upset with the unfair way society works to privilege those who are already privileged, and he knows that no matter what he's seen or testifies, it really won't matter in the end (cause no one with money ever goes to jail). Cause there's never any real justice for the situation, the narrator is just constantly haunted and tormented and affected by what he's been through (mark it on a calendar and walk away, forget the stories forget the pain, they mean nothing to you well they mean nothing to me, but the memories wont let me be). Something like child molestation/pornography will scar someone for life and have a lot of after effects, which is maybe why the narrator shaves his head and goes to rehab (maybe from getting caught up in drugs to cope). I have no clue if any of this is right or if it's what Brian Sella was trying to say, but to me, it seems like it's about the victim of some sort of scandal, leaving the narrator affected for life.