--   Its just another one of those days 

her heels spiking the concrete veranda suggested otherwise

for such a little thing she was killing it

she walked on behind him balancing a sweet roll on top her capped coffee cup and thumbing her cell with her other hand

her heel sparks echoed off the coarse brushed cement and between the brickworked storefront walls support columns and cleaned plateglass

                                         devoid of green plants      they commiserated with the other artificial scabs  cobbled roadways and parking lots sidewalks and vacated Business Closed stores   side by side by side

by side

some untended puny yellowing trees stuck up out of bays formed by concrete curbs

which made him laugh sickly

--   Jailers

as the surrounding businesses referred to the trees as elements of an inclusive greenway

saying so  doesnt make it so

anymore than indulging a whorehouse because inside it  one was told  there was truly a virgin to be had

--   Greenway  my ass

a few of the nearby trees nodded to him in the wind

he nodded back

taking in the imprinted scabs

the black tops  the worked flood of concrete and useless building spaces         

they always picked him up violently by his ears

                                                                               and he followed them

a slight disabled junior high teacher convinced him it was a workable technique

hed seen other kids launch themselves to their feet and then hobble behind him bent over raptly following their tortured ears

the only time he and the teacher crossed paths was when he happened to be nearest the open classroom door

the teacher entering the classroom  it wasnt his  felt he needed to quell the noise and vigor and grabbed him abruptly from behind

his wellknown antic startled the class

usually when grabbed the student squealed loudly

he didnt

he did rise to follow his ear

but before the crouching and dragging began

he slammed his hard rubber heel into the calf of the teachers trailing leg 

he supposed as the teachers howl went off(that was different) they were both at fault

he retaliated against the uninformed choice

delivering the kick the teachers pinch flinched  went slack  and he stood upright

immediately

taking his ears out of harms way

--   Ill see you in Sweats office

he remarked down into the teachers pained and red glaring face

Mr Duckett was too overcome to reply

Sweat was the junior high principal

he was the epitome of a principal

he knew every kid on sight and by name

you cant kid a kidder

and with Sweat  you didnt even dare try

hed hand you your head even as your mouth was still working

Mr Sweat worked off Honesty and Respect

he lived on them as a two-way street

Sweat heard what transpired before he arrived

--   And you say  Mr Sweat asked

he said exactly what happened between the students who disrupted the class

Yes   Unfortunately that sounds like them

They disappoint me

You disappointed me

--   Mr Sweat  I apologise to you  for disappointing you

Ive got nothing for Mr Duckett

Dont grab a snake by its tail

It dont like it

Dont like it  particularly  when its relaxed sunning itself  not in the midst of things

--   What would you have me do

If the ball were in your court

--   Its not

But  since youre asking  the harms have equaled themselves out

Actually   equal   thats probably not true

but his pants will cover his black and blue

I cant cover my ear

--   Let me take a look at that

                                               Goodness

--   He never cuts that thumbnail  not ever  You dont want him to grabbing you by the ear

 * * *

It was just one of those days

one of the little things heels skittered

then immediately over his shoulder he heard her paper cup of coffee slap on the concrete

contents splash

her cell clatter

turning  he caught the donut rolling lazily

she stood  utterly rigid

 

her knees broke first

she crouched  femininely  in her short skirt

trembling

and while he expected her to collapse to her hands and knees and wail  slap the concrete over and over again

or perhaps rise and barehanded slaughter any human being who witnessed her abject discontent

she did not

she gathered up her cell

turned it side to side   then over

inspection complete

she rose  straightened her skirt  and continued walking to wherever she was going
her heels falling less sharp

the coffee cup  emptied  turned  and open mouthed watched her go

he could almost hear  What about me

he knew the answer the inanimate cup would never guess     

                                                                                                        One of those days

1523,  Twosday,  30  6. 15

0009, Thursday,  2  7. 15