the small billboard was hidden in a side parking lot off the main street

he supposed you had to know it was there like a peek show a pornshop  for a particular discerning clientele

HOP’S BOUNCE HOUSE

INDOOR Bounce House

OPEN play ALL day

he could suppose children were discerning but what kid really wanted to play inside 

once upon a time when he was a kid that was like pulling teeth

                                                                   Lemme out of this hole!

when he was a kid he knew what he wanted though typically what he wanted was denied

he supposed that formed character thats what he was told

he certainly was a character

but growing up he thought about the other kids from families who were spoiledgot everything they wanted  they talked about sailing skiing in Colorado during Christmas break summer houses they stayed at in Wisconsin or summer camps where they recreated 

recreated

           he wreckcreated at home summers after his paper routes chores cut and edged lawns cut firewood hustled babysitting jobs  people liked the idea of a boy watching their kids playing with them getting them fed and down for the night on time he wished he got paid at home   he was the eldest of six  

then as often as possible he made it down to the river to swim or fish usually swam  fishing took time

his family wasnt from across-the-tracks  but they lived mighty damn near them

on a rare day of nothing to have to do after his early morning routes he followed the train tracks out of town into the farmer fields the pastures tree stands he loved the sound of the leaves shaking in a breeze

usually he hung a couple of books bound by a strap over his shoulder a surplus military belt and canteen slung around his hips a jackknife in his pocketnah actually an illegal switchblade a cop he knew gave to him Ostes

Ostes was his huge guardian angel Christ, kid, beat it home before curfew. You know what time it is. You don’t even try to hide; just walking in the street swinging your dick. It’s a good thing I like you.

Ostes lived next door to one of his two best friend 

                                                    he must have been selectivenah he had more girlfriendswould rather spend time with a girl that a guy  for obvious reasons  if you got bored you always had something to do

he looked at the sign the happy white rabbit wearing a smile and green bib overalls its ears erect their ends rounded and turned down

                   its happiness verging on leering

the voice went off in his head spoke to him

Wouldja cut it out

Me cut it out it said  I’m only saying what you’re thinking.

What Im thinking

It ain’t me doing the thinking.

Fine  What am I thinking

Man, I wish just once I could punch you in the arm, slap your face. You know what you’re thinking.

I do . .

. . See! That wasn’t so hard to admit.

And?

Are you going to say?

Yahsure A bounce house ought to be adult playground  Open a bar girls in swimsuits bouncing up and down up and down live music some evenings Why should kids have all the fun

Adults are just big kids

I dont know why they refuse to accept that asif play is beneath them I mean play  Not golf and other shit Play Go swing on a swingthrow a rubber ball against a wall

Play

Have fun

A bounce house sounds good to me.

Yeah Me too

1437,  Day-between-Two-Ts,  30  1. 19

0926,  Friday, 15  2. 19