25.9.19



the kid looked like a ginger Tom Sawyerno Huck Finn atall no mischief no spitting in his palm when he was lost slapping it with two fingers and going in the direction the biggest gob of spit led No no perceptible charisma a foot soldier a devotee one who took orders and followed them without question
                                                                               just the kind of person either Christ or an evangelist would love unerring  unquestioning

all that cascaded in his brain as they approached each other on the main road through town

he knew the town

he was an outlier

his daughters still couldnt believe he was living there after his wifetheir mother died

he smiled patiently explained that it was their choice to move to it to live in a more rural setting  Youve made your choices as women  You didnt have a choice when you were girlsI know that 

Iyou must know love being a fly in the ointment a stick in the eye a burr under a saddle Im happy here up in their face

You know that

they did
          still theyon occasion wondered where hed go if he didnt live there

I havent a clue

If I were unhappy I might give it some thought

But Im happy



Excuse me the ginger asked after they exchanged nodschimed hellos Do you have a moment?

Yes

the young man extended a pamphlet towards him I wondered if you might . .
. . Ohno he said abruptly looking into the gingers hand he glimpsed GOD halfway down in its text GOD is always written in capitals and bold he wondered if GAWD was insecure
No thank you

Im not a believer

Not a believer? ginger was incredulous his eyes suddenly went wet a cherry  a cherry presented to convert a Christians wet dream  he could probably taste it

Not a believer? again it had to be echoing shallowly in his erotic imaginings

Correct  Keep your pamphlet

ginger did not withdraw it
                            enthusiastically he chimed just like saying Hello When we die, all of us, when we die we’ll all come face to face with Jesus Christ.

Not me

Did you want to talk about it?  the pamphlet still hung in the space between them  a rope a lifesaver extended to a drowning man who hadnt any idea he was drowning  We could talk about it.

We just did
             he had no intentions of cockteasing the boy any furthur


1440,  Monday,  23  9. 19
1308,  Twosday,  24  9. 19





the problem
             a problem he realised a long time ago is prevalent and persistent and unwarranted it seems an obsession that people have that they have to ask others what they think he or she ought to do that theyfor some odd reason have to be told or assured what their mind is what they should do


whether position or status whether professional or personal  they bear strictures and responsibilitiesobligations that we know that we understand

when he went to dinner he didnt ask his date or whoever he was eating with what he should order

perhaps simplisticyes
                        however one knows what theyre supposed to do Do it Dont ask permission or questions in order to perform your assigned designated responsibilities


too often hed been asked  What do you think?

blandlynearly blithely he responded I know you know what youre supposed to do Dont ask me Im not flattered you have



do what you know youre supposed to do

precedent exists

if someone wants to change the rules

you better damnwell ask why ask them their reasons 

if their reasons arent good enoughthey dont convince you call them out

if need be go over their heads


challenge their authority


hed been doing it since he was a boy



he was called cantankerous
                              how could he not wear that as a stripe of honour

he was cantankerous

Thank you hed reply


0940,  Day-between-Two-Ts, 25  9. 19