All Bear

I got have a bear suit I really need a bear suit

in the same breath he covered need and want 

which was peculiar for him

normally they were separate

he preferred invoking need

want he maintained wasnt necessary

she didnt flinch she did tilt her head very slightly Okay, what kind of bear? she asked despite knowing the bear it would be

Griz

A grizzly bear suit, a grizzly body, legs, claws, a grizzly head completely covering your head or a headpiece and your face decorated to look like a bear?

whoa he couldnt help but wonder if she hadnt given this some thought already how she was spooky presentso very  thoughtful

Suit Headpiece Face decorated

I thought as much, I just wanted to be sure we were on the same page from the getgo.

Yes Apparently so right out the gate

Not an Alaskan Brown . .

. . No . .

. . Kodiak . .

. . No Griz You know

I know. An though you might find this hard to believe, I think I know of someone who might be able to help.

Wha no shit

No shit. You know me.

I love you

I do know you

Got no love for me

she rolled her huge brown beautiful eyes I’m helping you find a Griz suit.

You do

I do!

she didnt ask why he wanted a bear suit 

it didnt matter

she told him to jump into the Toyota a Toyota shed had nearly twenty years 

inside it it looked like a womans closetthe insides of a womans purse 

she grabbed some prettyslipped tampons off the seat so he didnt sit on them

What  no con . .

. . In the glovebox . .

. . doms

she fired him a ridiculous smile We gotta go, babe.

We gotta go now

Now, yes. He mentioned he might be leaving town. And when he goes he goes, no telling when he’ll be back.

Do I know him

Nope.

Hes a crafts guy aint he

He is. Completely unlike you.

Hed stay in Cotton Ball with youhelp you hash out your colour palette for the different quilts

He would.

Is he gay

Possibly. I’ve never asked.

He ever hit on you

You jealous?

Nah Youre married to me 

Yeah. I know. Got an itch, wanna scratch it, tell the other first.

Yup Respect goes two ways

Yet again why I love you.

she went out of town over the dry river bed

they were in the boonies inside ten minutes

He lives out here

Tell me that’s a rhetorical question.

Stating the obvioushuh

No huh. Duh.

he looked out the sideview mirror and watched the dust kick up off the dirt road behind them he could almost imagine them as a spaceship riding on a tail of flames

Drifting on me?

Imagining

Drifting and imagining aren’t unlike.

They arent I was thinking how cool we must look from above he turned and looked at her Im also thinking how cool youd look and move if I opened your blouse unclasped your bra

I would, but around this next grove of oak is where he lives.

On the way back . . pretty please

Maybe, on the way back.

If Im disappointed because he doesnt have a line on a Grizwho is he whats his name

Jerald, with a J.

If Im disappointed and Jerald doesnt have a line on a Griz suit then yesdefinitely  on the way home

I said maybe.

Im looking for a commitment

Ill commit youya keep it up. The Funny Farm’s white labcoats would love to play around, tinker, with what’s inside your skull.

Theyd find its filled with G-spots

Jesus.

       We’re here.

a narrow dirt roadnah two dirt lines where tires ranran beside rusting and some snapped and curled barbedwire on rudehewed woodposts some were capped by rusted-out tin pails a few more festooned with old hats that looked like jerked beef weathered and hard

                                   then the road opened a ramshackle lean-to appeared rusting hulks of machinery to its right inside it sat a not-as-rusted hulk chipped babyblue pickup truck

she veered leftbumping and bouncing as they went and stopped on the grass  twentyfivethirty yards beyond them an equally ramshackle cabin save for some fresh unpainted board patches on its face and bright shingles on the roof

a lazy blue smoke rose from the riverstone chimney   

she laid on the horn as she got out of the car Jerman!

Thought you said Jerald

You don’t know him; you haven’t been formally introduced. Then maybe he’ll allow you to call him by his pet name.

Pet name All yours Im happy to call him Jerald  JERALD

Jesus. Woudya stop? You’re so loud.

He might not have heard you or the car horn

from inside WHO’S BELLOWING?

ME

WHO’S ME?

MEs ME

HELLO MEME! A walking, talking one. I can’t wait to see.

I think Ill like this guy

she winked I think he’ll like you and winked again Particularly in a bear suit.

Aint cosplayin babe

No. Though to others it might seem so.

Ive no intention of wearing it around others

she gave him a quick smile You’re no fun. as Jerald came out through wideopen standing door

Hello! Jerald hailed Cindi! Nice to see you! 

Jerald looked to him Is it Joe, or Meme?

We could go with JoeMeme rather rhymes  Jerman  Doncha think

Formality be damned. I know Cindi’s keen on it, but knowing her one can’t help but know you too.

he was quickbuilt  a lean rubberband he crossed the tall grass and wildflowers to them making up better than the halfway between them 

Jerman hugged Cindi then extended his hand  Joe. JoeMeme.

Jerman

they shook hands

So what the hell brings you out this way? Another halfhour you'd've missed me.

Thought as much. said Cindi We jumped in the car and beat it. I thought you might be able to help, or at least give us a lead.

For?

Joe interrupted A Griz suit

Jerman looked at JoeMeme no expression visitedcrossed his face A Griz suit?

Yes Please

I told Joe youd likely be our best bet. Cindi said

Well. You never aim to flatter, Cindi. I think I may know someone who has a bear suit; although I can’t say for certain a Grizzly suit.

Really said Joe

Really. We’ll take my truck. His place is really out-of-the-way.

This is out-of-the-way

This really isn't, JoeMeme. But Bobby's place is.

Bobbys place was

they definitely needed Jermans 4wheel drive

they sat on the truck bench in line

Joe kept sneaking peeks at Cindis breasts hed have to recall this for some other time when he got his hands on a 4wheeler she could drive

Stop she eventually said slyly out of the side of her mouth

he wasnt as sneaky as he thought

he patted her thigh

Jerman talked about his family and Bobbys how they went back generations how the families owned the lands they drove through

Joe bit his tongue

Cindi patted his leg said out the side of her face again Discretion is the better part of valor.

Shakespeare

Huh? said Jerman

Sorry Thinking out loud Just ran across my brain Falstaff

King Henry the Fourth?

Chaayah You know your Shakespeare

I remember that Falstaff was in Henry the Fourth. Nothing beyond that.

Still thats good Better than most

Joe loves his Shakespeare. said Cindi Shakespeare, and foreign films with subtitles.

I do Every man and woman has their vices

Griz suit a vice? asked Jerman

I dont think so And it wont be if it doesnt exist  at least for the time being

Hear ya, JoeMeme, fingers crossed. Bobby has occasions to surprise even me; why I think he’s a good bet.

I appreciate that I appreciate that this can also be a shot in the dark

Bobby’s great-uncle died, shot in the dark, by his wife when he tried to surprise her. Evidently it was out of character for him. She reacted completely in character. Never came to no trouble though. What happens in these hills stays in these hills. I always thought the families ought to sue whoever came up with that print for Vegas.

Or at least shoot him, or her.

Out here  I hear ya

Cindi looked at one and then the other

Thanks for not being judgmental.

Hear ya Likewise

You two are a pair. said Cindi

Youre quite the pair yourself babe

Would you shaddup?

You two are quite the pair, whadaya talking about back and forth under your breath?

Im deeply in love with my wife Terms of endearment

His terms are less endearing. she gave Joe a quick shot with her elbow

Joe acted like it hurtOUCH Shes always so damn physical  I love it

Well, quit your lovemaking while I’m driving; it’s distracting and I wouldn’t want us to slip sidewise and roll, not with these rocks around us. They’ve killed family in the past. Though, to be sure, they probably shouldntve been driving loaded or drugged up. The errors of youth, and being immortal, yaknow?

I do Cindi made me mortal

And you still married her?

I married him. said Cindi

We married each other . .

. . You only proposed trying to get me to climb over a barbedwire fence.into a hayfield for illict purposes.

Well said  and yah that  And because I love you

she tried to ice him with a sidelong glance

An I wanted to make love with you in that field

Cindi says directly to Jerman  In the field across from my parents house.

Which would have been alright if you were able to keep yourself quietCindis vocal encouragement  well  the sweetest fucking things come out of her mouth

I could cum just listening to her sounds

That, possibly, might come under the heading of too much information, Joe.

Cum Jerman She drives me up walls and across ceilings Im a lucky man

And often I think, I’m not so lucky. said Cindi

Stop You know better Jermans a buddyhes seeing if he can get us a bear . .

. . Us?!

Yathink Im doing this just for myself

Oh, Christ! Jerman, turn the truck around, my husband’s delusional.

You’ll excuse me, Cindi, but evidently his delusions have kept you for . . how many years?

Yes How many years Cindi Joe asked

You’re the numbers guy, you know.

Fifteen years this September Jerman she knows shes playing her parther innocent part the child bride sold off by her parents better me than gypsy Id paid more   

The gypsy would only steal her

Jesus, Joe, you’re so full of shit . .

. . And you fill me with it he leaned past Cindis bouncing breasts Jerman She says shes never met anyone like me She tells me that every morning 

                              Im like waking up to a stranger every morning

He’s stranger every morning. said Cindi

Obviously, said Jerman strange has an upside

It do said Joe

they lollygagged in their thoughts and didnt speak

We’re here.

another ramshackle cabin squatting between brush and patches of grass and wildflowers and leaning woodframed outbuildings

a well

an outhouse

We live simply, profits are pure profit. said Jerman

Good job if you can get it

Somebody's got to do it.

They do

         Now  Do they have a Griz suit

He’s always to the point. said Cindi

Direct

Shortest distance between two points.

Thank you Jerman

You’re welcome.

Don’t let me come between you two lovebirds. Cindi rolled her eyes

Doncha love how she rolls her eyes Cindi says more with her eyes than most people say with their tongue.

She does.

I can see you appreciate my wife

I cherish her; otherwise I wouldn’t be up here right now, I’d be twenty minutes into where I thought I was going ten minutes before you showed. I cherish your wife.

Thank you

You’re welcome. Jerman leaned on the horn BOBBY!

Christ Whos bellowing now

Bobby’s deaf in one ear, long story, my fault, you have to project when you talk with Bobby. BOBBY!

Youre gonna make me deaf in one ear. said Cindi  Lemme out before you go off again  he looked over at Cindi she sat between them with her fingers in her ears

You knew this was coming

she smiled Coming, c-o-m-i-n-g, or cumming, c-u-m-m-i-n-g? Sometimes I have a hard time following your threads.

C-o-m-i-n-g

There you go, threw me a curve, usually your cumming; c-u- . .

. . Gotcha I can spell

Joe and Cindi were out of the truck before Jerman BOBBY-ed again I told you, he’s deaf in one ear; and he’s usually armed. Long story.

BOBBY!

FUCK! YOU’D THINK I WAS DEAF.

YOU ARE!

Yeah. There’s that.  Jerald?

YEAH.

Jerald

We’re formal. Our families don’t allow pet names, as Cindi would say.

Bobby

He’s Bobby on his birth certificate. His parents never cared for the name Robert.

A long story

A long story.

Shall we, gentlemen?

they both looked around at once for gentlemen smiled at each other they were pretty funny

I’ll not be redundant. Cindi said

Jerald.  That’s you, right?

It is.

coming out of the door hitching up his pantsbuttoning his fly I thought you was gone.

Almost. they closed ranks However, offering a little help to my friends.

Joe Cocker. I don’t have any dope right now.

Not that help.

Usually it’s that help you need to offset any trip you've planned, you’ll excuse me all ta hell. Bobby saw Cindi Hey, Cindi! he went around Jerald and hugged her I should have looked before I opened my mouth. You’re never in the market.

releasing Bobby she said  I am not.

But I did see him, whoever he is, behind you.

And I look like I do drugs

You don’t look to me like you’d deny me if I asked you one way or the other.

I would not But then you didnt ask did you

I did not.

So what brings you three up here, Jerald?

A bear suit.

A Griz suit interrupted Joe Dont wanna waste your time if you dont

A Grizzly bear suit? Bobby was obviously enjoying the turn of the conversation

Yes

How’s this Grizzly bear suit look?

Like a Griz

Construct? Whas yer name?

Ah, Christ, I didn’t introduce him; Joe, he’s Joe. My apologises said Jerald as he halfturned back to Joe I terribly sorry.

Bobby, this is Joe. Joe. Bobby. Joe’s Cindi’s husband.

We heard she had one. said Bobby  he took Joes hand in his mitt squeezed his hand firmly he didnt shake And not only is he living and breathing . . but he’s looking for a Grizzly bar suit to boot.

I am Jerald thought you may Though possibly not a Grizzly bar Joe winked

Understand. said Bobby But then, who the fuck would want a bear suit other than Grizzly bar, huh? Jerald would’nt’ve brought you up here if you were looking for a Teddy or a Panda bear; wouldja, Jerald?

No.

No. Cuz he’s got them down at his place. Doncha, Jerald?

I do.

Construct. Looking for head or a headspi . .

. . Careful, Bobby, head’s a dangerous place to go with Joe here. He sounds to be a liberal thinker.

You a liberal thinker? Bobby asked sucking his teeth

Will it cost me more if I am

You a liberal thinker?

I try to be a literal thinker but that leaves too much ground unfurrowed and while I like untouched earthappreciate its natural beauty I also know that if you want things to grow ya gotta plant seeds

Bobby moved his mouth as if he was chewing on Joes answer

A headpiece leaving my face unmasked

Bobby looked asif he swallowed what he had been chewing You’re in luck, boy.

luck shot through Joes brain like a bullet

he didnt remember much

Cindi must have taken things in hand

he was already in his head coming down out of the hills with Cindi no Bobby no Jerman she was unclaspedblouse open he was bucknaked under his bearskin

Mygawd

           Life is a wondrous thing

1246,   Twosday,  31  3. 20

1751,  Sunday – with three stops inbetween,  5  4. 20