the little boy riding a tricycle
smiled at him
they were in an enclosed back porch
off a doorway that led to a laundry a double deepsink wringer ringer washing
machine and a lonely commode
he stood just inside the laundry
doorway quickly changing into shorts to use the hot tub situated just outside
the back porch
the boys eyes were
uncomfortablehaunted him they were
etherealcrystalblue it seemed the child could
look into his soul not a shabby advantage
the boy had his mothers eyes hers were translucent greenagate not as direct staring as her sons
for all he knew the boy popped
out of her head an Athenian birth
there was no trace on the boy
that wasnt drawn on his mother
his affection for her was
undiluted unshared
he didnt know their story
she didnt talk about her and the
boy earlier didnt allow conversation to spin in that direction and stymied it
if it seemed inevitable she kept things
at a long arms length way away from any venture
to ask would be rude he wasnt rude
he moved in next door they neighbours
only two months
he was private selfsufficient
but
he didnt have a hot tub his bathroom overlooked the red
cedar tub it provoked him then one dayseeing fresh laundry hanging on
lines between a rusting tee post and two apple trees he walked next door and
rapped on the front screen
looking through the sunlight on
the whispered screen into the livingroom she seemed to materialiseappear smiling Yes
Hi
Hi.
Im youre next door neighbour
You are. You're very quiet. I trust my boy isnt disturbing you.
Children cant possibly disturb me
Im no more than a boy myself Im also the
oldest of seven Patience is my middle
name Joe Patience
she laughed her hands remained at her side she pushed the screen door open with her
knee
she wore a frumpish floral house
dressits colours working well with her complexion a longsleeved loose green
cardigan over it two buttons buttoned just below where her cleavage was getting
interesting her ravenblueblack hair was
toppled up into a loose out-of-her-face ponytail
she was utterly arresting young Mamma her boy called wheeling into the livingroom on his tricycle it wasnt a tricycle as much as it was a
companion a trusty steed a good dog like
the straight razor his father gave him that he carried in his backpocket habit comfort Who’s that man, mamma?
This is Joe Patience, sweetheart.
Joe Patience?
That's a strange name isn’t it, momma?
Ezekeil. Ezzy. Is that a strange name?
No.
Joe Patience isn’t a strange
name. It’s Joe’s name, fortunately for you.
Huh?
Nothing Ezzy. Excuse me, Joe, my name’s Sarai;
Joe Patience she extended her hand he took it they shook he admired her firm grip he
enjoyed its roughness her chaffed working hands
I like your grip, Joe.
I was thinking the same of yours
Thank you.
What can I do for you, Joe?
reams
unpeeled in his skullblinding him he went with why he visited Hot tub almost
a bark Ive noticed since moving
in you have a hot tub
Yes.
Yes However
I havent seen you using it that
wasnt gooddidnt come out right
smiling furtively Have you been
watching?
No nonah Can I plead the Fifth No I
got a bum wing while soakin in my tub is
awright frankly its boring unimaginative But a cedar
tub out of doors So ridiculously attractiveso inviting
Its been begging me if you really must know Its implored me to take a chance an rap on
your door Ask he
smiled Momma may I
Momma may I? she smiled Or ask?
Oh yesyes Ask Ask
if you might be inclinedconsider sharing your tub with me
she smiled widely Share it with you . .
. . No nahnah no Not
share with me not that that isnt an attractive idea I think No If
I could use it That said Im happy to share
Well, thank you she smiled
her
smile erupted into laughter her hands
gathered at her breasts they didnt go to
her mouth It was here when we came. I
don’t know the first thing about it.
Oh I do Id offset any expense I incurredany
difference you realise in your utilities
Hmm a man about the house. Novel.
Ezzy. What do you think, honey?
Ezzy eyed him saw through him Joe
Patience. Momma, I think he’s OK.
Done she said she smiled again Day or night. Give me a head’s up, fifteen
minutes, it’s yours. If it’s inclimate
you’re welcome to change in the house, the back porch, we have a laundry area,
just a leap from the tub.
Oh goodness thank you Thank you very much Youll keep me apprised of any expense I
incur
I will.
he extended his hand again Shake on it
Happy to shake your hand, Joe. she took his hand
up on the little hill they
shared a cul-de-sac she named Prop’r
Felix Bee from a film she saw called
Cul-de-Sac he used the hot tub the
Spring the Summer Fall Winter winters in California were cool
compared to Chicago Montana Alaska Minnesota Spring
one
summer evening he telephoned to ask Sarai if he could use the tub We’re sorry, you have reached a number that
has been disconnected or is no longer in order.
that was a douse of cold water Disconnected
he set the phone down in the
cradle and walked into his bathroom and looked at Sarai and Ezzys house
it seemed to age overnight
the tub the slats appeared greyed weakened
he went out the front door and
walked down to their house
the screen was torn the front door behind it closed
he usually came into the house
through back porch door
he opened the screen door it cried like a cold tendon
he rapped on the front door its paint was fadedminute bubbles needed attention
but rapping on the door his rap wasnt absorbed by anything opposite the
door the quietude of furnishings
upholstery the quietude of
possession
his rap echoed the house sounded
empty
Impossible only
word to escape him
he went around to the windows and
peered inside
vacant
aged
spiderwebs
unkept
You
always entered through the back porch
he went around behind the house the tub was illkept Impossible
he used it two weeks before he rapped on its door
he didnt hear Ezzy and his
trusted steed wheeling towards it JOE! JOE PATIENCE! Ezzyd cry
his rap echoed
echoed echoed
Whadafuck
they would have something to him
that they were leavingthey respected one anothers spacetheir privacy
Sarai
she would have said
he went home
he tried to work for three days
but remained distracted
their house seemed to grow
oldervisibly every day
he walked down the hill and
followed the dirt road into town a
rucksack slung over his shoulder for provisions
entering the post office to check
his box he suffered an AHHAmoment the postmaster a forwarding address he didnt know
Sarais last name though he had her
address
the lobby was empty
he strode up to the empty window
and tapped the bell an inelegant service
bell motel bell there was a grate before the window
obscuring his viewreminding him of the whispering screen he saw Sarai through
when they meet
eventually an elderly manhalfbent hobbled up to the window Can I help yayungman?
Yes please
I live on Boone Road top of the hill the cul-de-sac Prop’r
Felix Bee he thought
Know it. Don’t deliver up there.
No you dont
How can I help?
My neighbours Sarai her son Ezzy have moved out I was wondering if they left a forwarding
address so I could reach them
You’d think she would have told
you.
Fuckin correct curmudgeon he
thought Yes But they moved suddenlyId seen them two weeks
earlier
You live next door? Two weeks
earlier?
Yes
Boone?
Yes
You’re the only address on Boone
with a PO Box.
I know the houses; I’ve lived
here my whole life.
Thought strange you took that
place up there. Alone.
Alone
Yes. Those houses belonged to the
Fraziers, family property, generations. They killed one another years back.
You’re the first tenant in years. Townspeople won't live there. Terribly
grim. No.
Only a stranger would have moved
up there.
You’ve been the only one up there
for years.
I'm sorry, young man, I don't know what you're talking about. I can't help you.
Oh sir but you have Thank you
leaving he tapped the
service bell one more time the old man paid no attention it reminded him of the bell
on Ezzys tricycle
between 0800 &
0900, Thursday, 28 3.
19
1220, Reggae Friday, 29 3.
19
