Ravenous, we split them open. They lie naked, exposed. They’ve already been ripped off the branch, then tortured by burning, finally brown bagged. Greedily we devour them. Pete and me, warming our hands first. We tongue test the heat of their crunchy guts. We’re laughing, together. Pete can’t resist, he chucks one at me. It catches my cheek. Makes the hidden bruise there flare. I wince, but giggle, as I return his fire. I didn’t expect a bull’s eye. Not at my first attempt. I got him in one, on his left temple. He went down hard, with a look of surprise on his face. Blood trickles into his eye. He does not blink. He was lucky. I always knew what was coming. Just never always knew the when. I sob and say to anyone who’ll listen, ‘It was just a silly game. That’s all.’