C is for "Controversial" term

The source of the controversy surrounding Higher Power of Lucky can be summarized in seven letters: scrotum. This anatomical term appears six times in Patron’s book (one of which is on the first page, and five of which are in the first chapter):

• “Sammy told of the day when he had drunk half a gallon of rum listening to Johnny Cash all morning in his parked ’62 Cadillac, then fallen out of the car when he saw a rattle snake on the passenger seat biting his dog, Roy, on the scrotum.” (page 1)
• “The question of Short Sammy’s dog’s scrotum settled into one certain brain crevice as she picked her way among the weedy bushed of the dry wash.” (p. 6-7)
• “Scrotum sounded to Lucky like something green that comes up when you have the flu and cough too much.” (page 7)
• “It sounded medical and important, and Lucky was glad she was a girl and would never have such an aspect as a scrotum to her own body.” (page 7)
• “Deep inside she thought she would be interested in seeing an actual scrotum.” (page 7)
• “After a moment, Lucky said, ‘Brigette, what is a scrotum?’” (p. 132)