he had a drink at The Bradbury
whenever the gang met up in Chicago
he sipped a Rusty Nail and collected
his thoughts as he waited
he was the punctual one even
early and had been since he quit standing them up quit looking for better things
and women to do
and despite knowing he could count
on them being late(for years) he refused to break his practise hell he even knew the order theyd arrive in(as if
they colluded) and was rarely wrong as if it were set in stone like on the old stones in the graveyard
across Milwaukee that if he wished he could stand up and look out to see them through
front windows
(admittedly an attraction for
him)
Ya gotta be so fuckin morose
they said
Im not morose Or even morbid Im accurate
Accurate
Yah Im no nonsenseAint blowin smoke up your ass Prove me wrong
but they never did or frankly tried
they were later than usual
he ordered a second Rusty Nail a
cold roast beef sandwich horseradish on the side
Mad World played over the room
he was beginning to think if
by the time he finished his second hed take a room upstairs and maybe ask the
barmaid up
she leaned deeply setting down the
rye and roast beef a huge sliced koshered dill beside it gave him an eyeful
while her attention was
professional it was a bit more
she was interested
he was too
Excuse me Rachel Is your shift much longer
My youre direct for a guy sitting at a big table drinking
alone saying hes meeting buddies
Sayin These guys are always late Today just later than usual Yaknow guys
I do So then maybe Im suspicious this is all a
cover to get my attention pique my
curiosity
Ah suspicious and curious Ya got a lot in common wid my cats Yamore suspicious Or curious
You gotta a coin . .
I doI
carry a silver dollar expressly for this purpose Helpin suspicious curious women out
I believe you do
Comon Call me out
she smiled slow and warm like
honey or Vermont maple syrup dappling melted butter very appetizing No I
think I wont I think you ought to keep
it in your pants
Keep it in my pants he winked If you prefer but were wandering
off topic Your shift
I gotta admit I saw you earlier
this afternoon when I stopped for the table
You were working then
I wasI was
Good
Good
Yeah Good chance youre nearly off if not off and either suspicious or curious
Ill split my sandwich and pickle
with ya
Or if you prefer something else
she looked around lingering her eyes on the oval table he sat
at Your buddiesas you say
My buddies I could be cajoled to turn over an old leaf
Old leaf You mean a new leaf
No I mean Id be happy to return to my old ways
if you care to join me
she utterly disarmed him her shrug
the clench of her breasts her
long fingers twining mischievously and
pulling apart like gardener snakes
then she smiled a smile he expected
to see only on the face of the full moon
1316, Twosday,
27 12. 16
1139, Day-between-Two-Ts, 28 12.
16
Jasmine Thompson Mad World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENJUB5thpB4
