the maid woke him I am sorry she said you did not hang the Do not
disturb sign on your door.
he rubbed at the sleep in his
eyes
he was still drunk
the door swung in
and left a dresser was immediately to
its right the bed was in sixseven
steps green black tiled floor a throw rug beside the bed
a 1.75 glass liter of Black Jim
Beam lay on its side
he drank enough that much didnt spill
the maids eyes went directly to it
then curiously sympathetically her eyes turned to himmet his
he smiled at her he mumbled Confusion and anger arent attractive
are they atleast not first thing in the
morning
Ill take care of this
That’s my job, mister.
Thats your job if Im a slob Im not If youll leave a rag a towel some
solution its not much Ill clean it up lickety-split when I finally
drag my assexcuse me my fanny out of bed Please
If you like.
I like
I apologise for not getting upstanding
while addressing you properly person to
person Ive taken it upon myself to
decide you wouldnt appreciate that
You funny man, mister.
Ive been told Im sorry youve had a glimpse at my sorry
statehowever let me assure you were allowed an evening of self pity get it behind us then rise move forward
I hadnt expected to rise just now
she
smiled Yes, mister.
Thank youwhas your name
Ysabel.
Ysabel Thank you Ysabel Youre the bestlooking alarm to ever awaken me Thank you
she smiled broadly covered her mouth with her hand . .
. . Nono dont cover your mouth You have a beautiful
smile Ysabel
Thank you, mister.
Youre welcome
If youll leave a towel a rag
an solution Ill be out of your hair until later
Should I hang the Do not disturb
sign on the door?
If you would Ysabel Thank you Im glad one of us is thinking Ill catch up
another wide beautiful smile she didnt cover her mouth
white teeth radiant against mocha skin
she left the items on the dresser
and backed outnodding as she went Rest,
mister.
I will Ysabel Thank you I will
she snugged the door closed locked it he could hear her fumble with a Do not disturb placard then
it was quiet
he snatched the tipped Beam by the
neck and took a long pull Aaah his drunkenness
sighed when he took it from his mouth
on a small café table on the
other side of the bed were two wrapped glasses above them a small unused ice bucket when he got up into the roomstarted
drinking he wasnt parsing the whiskey its gurgle would eventually mask and take the
words out of his ears
he said Im not hiding I havent gone missing
Yeah? Well, you ain’t present.
Present
You ain’t present . .
.
. I aint been present according to you and whoeveryour intimates Im not here to meet your standards I havent
set standards for you nor would I
Back off
You dont wanna get hurt for your effortsyour
biases An you know I dont mind hurting
people Not your way but your ways always
been milquetoast in regards to mine
Thats the difference between where
an how we grew up
Affluence versus handtomouth
Mebbe I should have chosen my
parents better
Accidents of our births Where youre bornwho youre born to Colour of your skin Race Ethnicity
Like any of us were in command of
that crapshoot
Nothing huh
If I need your help Ill ask
Otherwise
Fuckin leave me be
This is my burden
Ill hump it in the manner I want
I dont step in your shit
Dont step in mine
0809, Day-between-Two-Ts, 19 6.
19
1057, Day-between-Two Ts, 19 6.
19
