Whaddaya reading
Loon Lake Doctorow
Among others Gaddis Faulkner Algren
the title didnt register it was met with a dull expressions
the authors names skipped like flat stones across the undisturbed surface of their faces
the authors names skipped like flat stones across the undisturbed surface of their faces
Books Im reading books
from off to a side another said Never
heard of it
Loon Lake
Yeah whatever
(whatever inflamed him)
Cant
say I recognise the names
Faulkner You cant say
Oh yeah maybe
Maybe
Some cat taught in high school English aye Yes My sister read
him she was better in school I copied her papers and turned them in Skated on that
miserable class
You shined English
I took a
C
He knew hed have to break the sheet
ice at this lummoxs feet and let the cold black water swallow him whole
Huh
Hyperbole
If I was your teacher I would have failed you
If I was your teacher I would have failed you
Listening
to your mouth I think
you have failed a lot of people
Dont try clever
You can scarcely walk and chew gum
Id have held you back let you repeat Embarrassed you for the embarrassment you are
You can scarcely walk and chew gum
Id have held you back let you repeat Embarrassed you for the embarrassment you are
That dont
happen no more Education worried about
my self esteem
Besides me
everyone like me we would have fallen on you like a hobbled pig for slaughter
You think
he looked away from the Mickey
Mouse who had insinuated himself into the conversation and back to the woman he was originally speaking to
Who are you reading
Its not really who rather what Im reading romance and fantasy
You dont known the authors name
She aint
highbrow Not like you pretend
Im not talking to you
You
ought to be I ought to be all up in your
head
Why
Youre
not a threat
I
know youd like to be
But
youre not
So take your ball and go home
Im done talkin to you
the young man began to say
something but he held his hand up flat in front of his face
Sheet ice
Ill
break it
Not
hyperbole
the young man looked around he didnt
see anyone to encourage him or have his back
Bullshit man Youre bullshit
he backed away
then walked away muttering to himself
then walked away muttering to himself
You dont know the writers name
Well like he said
Im not highbrow like you
And highbrow is knowing the
author and the title of the book youre reading
The subject matter
Well the names you said sound boring
I guess Id assumed what they wrote about would also be boring
They make any of their books into movies
They make any of their books into movies
A movie wouldnt do them justice
Books that are worthwhile are
made into movies
I would agree Some
The people you named are dead arent
they
They are
Theyre dead
Then they have nothing to say to us do they
Then they have nothing to say to us do they
Their words still talk to us but
it is unlikely theyll be splashed on garish theatre screens no fast and furious
car chases gratuitous nudity No
Then what are we talking about
I asked you what you were reading
I thought it would be interesting to talk about then perhaps segue into other things
I thought it would be interesting to talk about then perhaps segue into other things
Segue
I did say I thought
I dont understand seque
I dont understand seque
Again I said I thought
But thats alright
But thats alright
Be well
he took his leave
he walked away from the small gathering again unfortunately recognising what he long knew
Beauty was a puddle
on a street after a good rain attractive refreshing glistening throwing up the trees or the skys reflection above it
but shallow and soon evaporated
he took his leave
he walked away from the small gathering again unfortunately recognising what he long knew
Beauty was a puddle
on a street after a good rain attractive refreshing glistening throwing up the trees or the skys reflection above it
but shallow and soon evaporated
1943, Day-between-Two-Ts, 12 8.
15
1243, Thursday,
13 8. 15
