itd been awhile since he sported a shiner

What   did you do get in a fight

Yah

suddenly theres this vague unease 

a skittishness

and after very little time it becomes a blatant discomfort

he wasnt going to say anything more the ensuing silence the discomfort didnt belong to him 

it wasnt his question he simply answered it

                                                                                   they excused themselves and left

and that was alright with him  

hed be damned if he was going anywhere 

as if he should be ashamed or apologize for having gotten into a fight  nary askd the reason

for the fight

violence has a remarkable way of making other people uncomfortable

coloring the one bearing the bruises as either stubborn  or irrational

Really  what rational person gets into a fistfight

You dont think theres a rationale that precedes a fight  And whoever said it was a fistfight

Theres no need for violence               

he could smell the condescension

None huh  Youve lead a sheltered life  Always at the front of the line to shake hands after a team competition  huh

Theres nothing untoward about that  Its a healthy display of sportsmanship

Excuse me my mistake first in line to shake hands  Youve never been in a fight

I have not

You know I would have preferred you had simply said no then I could have held out that you had though such an admission now wouldnt truss your point

No  I have not

I believe you  You make me worry for young men growing up  You promote passivity  a lack of passion

I think youre wrong to associate violence with passion

I do  Ive had sex that was damn near violent  I think the vernacular is  rough  You havent have you

I dont talk about my sex life

Im not talking about my sex life Im talking about violence and passion  Put simply is there anything you feel passionately about that you would fight for

Id have to think about it

Dont bother  Passion isnt about thinking  Its reaction lust emotion and sometimes if youre lucky you get away with only black eye for your trouble

So you find violence worthwhile  Your violence doesnt impress me

Youre ignorant  My black eye isnt to impress a fuckin soul  I fought to offset odds 

four on two improves on four on one  I take it youd call someone in authority on your cellphone to manage the four on one  And I dare say youd be the first to call it in too

We choose our fights

Please stop youve never chosen   Ever

maybe a conversation would have gone that way

but they excused themselves and left

                                                                                            he wasnt going anywhere

between 1430 and 1500,  Twosday,  27  11. 12