Hillbilly Elegy

Jackson, goddammit,” Mamaw insisted
—and who would call Uncle Jimmy and
tell him to come home.
Lindsay returned home shortly
before midnight. I trudged down the
street and opened our door. She was
walking down the stairs but stopped
cold when she saw my face, red and
blotchy from crying all day. “Papaw,” I
blurted out. “He’s dead.” Lindsay
collapsed on the stairs, and I ran up and
embraced her. We sat there for a few
minutes, crying as two children do when
they find out that the most important man
in their lives has died. Lindsay said
something then, and though I don’t
remember the exact phrase, I do