Leo's prayer

I knew I had to get rid of this guy. I noticed that when I talked to my
folks or when I read something he wouldn’t come out. So, I focused on school when
I could go. I made the honor roll a couple of times, too. Who would have thought it.
Yeah, the teachers at Lindblom were shocked at Leo Sinkowski making honor roll.
Things were good, then junior year, I got a job from a guy who used to come to the
electric shop at school. I apprenticed under him for two years and had my electrician’s
license by the time I was eighteen. I got into the Union, met Margaret and things were
good. Pop died and I got Mom into a duplex on the same block where I lived. We were rolling.
Then I had a w-w-w-eak moment, and he came back. It’s true. He came back and talked
me into s-s-s-som-s-so-something r-r-real bad.
I will tell this!!! You can’t stop me!
My head is splitting!
I gotta do this now or die!! It’s me or you, and I can’t tell you now, you sonofabitch,
it ain’t gonna be me!
It was a great plan, but the devil himself created it. To this day, the Board of Education
thinks it was an accident. Well, that’s the story they gave the news boys. I had a great alibi
because I had told them the switches in the boiler room of that school needed replacing and
that the wiring was rotten. They dragged their feet because they didn’t want to spend money to
replace them. So, when he came to me with the idea, I knew I couldn’t lose. God, my head is
splitting, but I’m tired. I gotta tell this.
“What about the kids,” I said.
“What about the fire,” he came back with. “Don’t think about the kids. Besides, fire is pure.
It’s good for them. Cleans them up. Just think of all the fun you’ll have.”
I knew he had me. I went on to the school. The switches were in bad shape, but they never woulda started a fire like that on their own. I had an nitrogen tank I was using for welding, and took it to the school. It was issued by the same company that supplied the Public Schools, so that was the cover up if they happened to find it. I loosened the knob a little and flicked the switches off and on, building up static. The last time I flicked the switch off, I could hear that little click, and I knew the next one would be it. I positioned myself halfway out the back door of the place and turned the lights on.
“Kerfloom!”
It was something to see. They said half the first floor became a fire tunnel. Three classrooms and the lunchroom went up.
I was okay for a while. For three years, I didn’t think about it at all. Until we had Leo Junior,
then I thought about it all the time. I could see the kids’ faces, all crispy and charred, following
me around. That’s why I started drinking. I never talked about it to anyone but this sonofabitch who says he knows about truth. Well, I’m too tired to go on. I can’t carry him around anymore. I don’t give a damn if I die. I got nothing to lose.
So, I’m glad I had the chance to tell you this story. I know you didn’t come in here for all
this. You just wanted a cup of coffee and a newspaper. But I’ve been watching you. You one of
my favorite people. I wish people saw folks like you more often. They would say different things
about Chicago police officers. You are truly one of Chicago’s finest. And that’s why I know you’ll
do the right thing and take me in. And when they put you on the stand, I want you to tell them to give me the ‘chair’.
I mean, it’s only fair, isn’t it?