nicknicknicknick reviewed With a Closed Fist by Kathy Dobson
Review of 'With a closed fist' on Goodreads
3 stars
1) ''I've always lived in fear of going to the bathroom. I know if I sit on the toilet for more than a couple of minutes, I risk having a rat crawl up the pipes and bite me on the ass. I stomp my feet, peeing as quickly as possible while singing 'The Unicorn Song' so loudly my mom yells at me to stop yelling.''
2) ''Every Victoria Day the Point almost burns to the ground. People go crazy with firecrackers, sparklers, burning shitbags, and homemade firebombs. Anyone who owns a car doesn't leave it on the street, because they know it'll get torched or at least turned over. If they can't hide their car or drive it out of the Point and leave it somewhere safe, they surround it with friends and family members after sunset.''
3) '''She took advantage,' says Mom, 'and she of all people should know …
1) ''I've always lived in fear of going to the bathroom. I know if I sit on the toilet for more than a couple of minutes, I risk having a rat crawl up the pipes and bite me on the ass. I stomp my feet, peeing as quickly as possible while singing 'The Unicorn Song' so loudly my mom yells at me to stop yelling.''
2) ''Every Victoria Day the Point almost burns to the ground. People go crazy with firecrackers, sparklers, burning shitbags, and homemade firebombs. Anyone who owns a car doesn't leave it on the street, because they know it'll get torched or at least turned over. If they can't hide their car or drive it out of the Point and leave it somewhere safe, they surround it with friends and family members after sunset.''
3) '''She took advantage,' says Mom, 'and she of all people should know better, should know the impact her selfish actions would have on everything we've all been working on together here for years now. She should be shot. Or at least get her stupid ass kicked back to Westmount.'
Mom says this social worker knew coming into the Point that the people she'd be working with don't have any power.
'These are people without a voice, people who already lack confidence in the system.'
Mrs. Cooper is really upset, especially since her husband is insisting that he and the social worker are in love. When the social worker dumps him a couple of weeks later, all the mothers are thrilled.
'I hope Anita doesn't take him back,' says Mom on the phone. 'She'd be a fucking idiot to let him back in the door.'
But I can hear the lie in her voice. Point women always take their men back.''