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
