I couldn’t believe it when I saw this scene from This Boy’s Life.
Because I lived it. Almost word for word.
Except instead of mustard it was a slice of American cheese so old that the edges of had hardened and turned darker, still inside the plastic sleeve.
And instead of smashing it in my face, he made me get it out of the trash and eat it. I brushed off the coffee grounds and forced it down my mouth. It smelled like trash and was gritty. I felt disgust and dread with every trudging bite.
I don’t know how Robert DeNiro did it, but that is exactly my step dad.