Spite

Mama was wrapping some kind of chocolate cookies that she bought to support a local orphanage. Sef came downstairs and stood in the hallway adjoining the dining area were Mama was thus engaged.

The day before he had tried to hang himself with a thin piece of cord. It was something he did in a desperate fit! He wondered if he was going to Hell for it. He thought about this while Mama wrapped the cookies.

Then Mama picked up a piece of twine. She said "Look Sef! This is called a hangman's knot! They used to do this so that the neck would break and people wouldn't choke slowly to death. The next time you play your games with string ... remember this."

For years he did not know what she meant by "games with string."