he was a small man
but he seemed smaller fixed by an
unseen weight he carried on his shoulders which tipped him forward and made him
slide on his toes nearly imperceptibly stagger as he walked
I saw it I approached him to see
if I could help to see if perhaps he wouldnt share his load with me
I wouldnt say so directly
I wouldnt presume he couldnt handle
his weight
we knew each other professionally(but
profession and private had bounds and I enforced mine)
Id seen his spirit slip
I shared levity with him
briefly he would lighten
though it did not stay his
concern
and then from across the room
later I saw his weight bent him
after work I approached him and
said I was going for a drink
if hed like to join me Id be
happy to buy him one
he paused(I crossed my fingers)
he appeared he was going to turn
me down he looked at feet
then brightly in a waning moment
more like the man I first met he said that my offer was thoughtful and yes hed
like to have a drink with me
I immediately took him by the elbow Fine I said Itd be nice to take a
little high into the weekend after the workweek
Yes he said I could do with a
little high
Then to Black Sheep have you been
there
No I rarely go anywhere
Then were rare Gotta like that
at Black Sheep taking seats at
the bar I told him to have whatever hed like
the barkeep came over
Hey Sam I said Ill never get over calling a woman
Sam
she laughed gayly warm
she leaned towards us Gents What will you have
I leaned towards her as I always
did I always made a point of admiring her ample bosom its gentle swell warm cleavage
at the stitch of her lowcut blouse
David leaned back
Sam David
David Sam David tell Sam what youd
like she knows what I wantDont you Sam
she may have blushed her nod and
turn of head hiding it David Yours
he asked what was on tap
David Come on man a drink You can always have a beer
Take spirits
he insisted a beer was fine
Sam I said Seems I got a cheap
date
she said
he said
she said to me Rusty Nail One
rock
Ah
Sam You remembered Ya make my heart smile among other things
she laughed blurted without her
hand to her mouth she lingered a moment
jiggled naturally then she turned
away for our drinks
Shes a handsome woman isnt she
David
Yes handsome Why
handsome
Because her beauty isnt a typical
feminine beauty Ive known only one other woman who possesses Sams attributes
her physicality her brightness Shes a
fuckin candle
Have you two ever dated
Wow
youre stoking me I appreciate that
No Itd be inappropriate for me to
ask
Is she seeing someoneInappropriate
Seeing someone
inappropriateWouldnt you like to see someone inappropriate I dont know Ive never asked Inappropriate Our age difference
Horseshit
Christ out of the mouth of a cheap
date You make me feel good thank
you How can I help you feel good You wont
flirt with Sam
No Tall women dont like short men
Thats a fact isnt it
It is he saw the expression in his face And well not ask Sam to attest to itI am your
guest
You are Saw that cominghuh
I did You take nothing for granted
and if something can be tested verified you push for verification I reiterate Im your guest
Yahyah Correct
You are my guest though what I would give to be your height and walk smackdab
face to breast into Sam he fanned
himself with a coaster emphatically
Youre more full of shit than I
imagined
Yes I am
Shit has its home with me
Sam set Davids schooner before
him and with a sexy flourish(though anything she did was sexy) she set a double
Rusty Nail before him My treat she said
Its double up yah
No baby the whole thing
Baby
Sam smiled You dont like baby
I
like being your baby
You love
being my baby
Sam I love being your baby
Then shaddup . .
.
. Or youll shut me up
I will
And Ill imagine Ill count all the
ways you could a bust in the mouth
Dont choke on your drink she laughed Gotta go
Baby And David
before she left she pulled loose
hair back up on top of her head and redid her hairtie a scarce bit more vigorous
than necessary
he admired her jiggle
she winked Adios
David said You ought to ask
I think I will then turning to David drink in hand Na zdrowie David
blanched Polish for health
Oh
And then taking full advantage of
my situation Im gonna ask how you are
How am I
Yes
How do you mean
We dont know each other well but youve
seemed to me out of sorts
How are you
If I said the puddles in the street the recent rain they
arent the right color theyre green they shouldnt be
Id say the clouds havent been
overhead theyre around us at the edges like ramparts Meringue ramparts I have perceptions too
Yes You do
David went off on his fear
from the election It didnt matter he was American he was of Mexican descent he
was gay in his extended family there were those who werent Werent Who
worked hard Who paid taxes Who did jobs whites wont Who if they left in mass would
leave the wheels of agriculture in California spinning spinning going nowhere
and deserved it if they allowed forces without to dictate
I cant tell you not to be afraid
for you or yours
I can tell you Ill be out ahead of you with thousands millions of others
David nodded
Gotta use the restroom Would you
like to stop Sam and order another for yourself Im still good Nursing it as if I was a babe at her tit he
laughed
David stirred uncomfortably still up in his head
walking to the restroom he looked
back and saw David sat on his stool still
bent
fuckin bar toilets they only came one waydidnt they
he pissed into the stained
porcelain urinal
the urinal weeped
it weeped piss tears onto the
floor that found the joint between the tiles and dribbled like mercury clots collecting
debris to the drain behind him and cried as the slivered grate split it like razors piss tears
steam and incense vapour disgusting
cut by airy patchouli dispensed from a shabby
white plastic air freshener stuck to the tiled wall
seemed quick-fixes were common
course poor answers pitiful options to just get by
he washed his hands in the
stained sink and dried them with paper towels
he hoped he was all about hope that kidney tapped hands clean refreshed he might find David sitting more upright
at worse well Sam could pull his ass out of the fire on looks alone
he hoped he was all about hope that kidney tapped hands clean refreshed he might find David sitting more upright
at worse well Sam could pull his ass out of the fire on looks alone
began
Day-between-Two-Ts in the afternoon walking,
16 11. 16
scribbled
1422, Friday, 18 11.
16
tied
it in a knot 1141, Saturday, 19 11.
16
Bill Withers Aint No Sunshine https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YuKfiH0Scao
