Summary

“Self Defense” by Samuel Wilkes tells the story of two escaped inmates.

Norman and Daniel leave Nashville in a Camaro owned by Daniel’s friend Stuart. They are heading to the Gulf of Mexico to start a new life.

Norman begins to sing “Me and Bobby McGee”, but he stops when he notices that Daniel is annoyed. Daniel asks Norman if he wants beer or sex first. Norman replies that he wants beer, so they stop at a gas station.

Daniel goes into the gas station alone. As he returns, Norman notices his calm walk and thinks that he is fine with letting Daniel control everything.

The two men return to the road and ride for a while in silence. Norman begins to sing “Me and Bobby McGee” again and, this time, Daniel approves.

Norman always considered himself to be heterosexual, but he formed a bond with Daniel in prison. He loves Daniel, but he has never told him this.

Daniel and Norman then stop at a strip club. Daniel finds an envelope full of money that Stuart left him in the glove box. Inside the strip club, Daniel finds two women for himself and Norman. Norman sleeps with one of them but does not enjoy himself. Back in the Camaro, Daniel tells Norman all the sexual details of his encounter with the woman. Norman does not care ...