she smiled sweetly pushed her honeyblonde hair out of her
eyes
he really liked her freckles
they met in a bar introduced by mutual friends who didnt see that fireworks might erupt
between them
they surprised themselves
when she mentioned her place was in
walking distance he asked if he could walk her home
You’d like to walk me home?
Yah I would I wished you had school books for me to carry Thats probably the last time I
walked a girl home
You carried their schoolbooks?
What can I say Im a gentleman
Did you think something might
happen when you got them home?
No I just wanted to spend some time with them
outside of school away from other kids Get to know them better
That
was plenty
Altruistic?
Selfless Hell no I was interested in them And I
hope I inspired some interest in them for me A long shot
A long shot. How do you mean?
I wasnt part of the in-crowd I didnt hang out with people who knew people
who knew people Wasnt part of the
social fabric
You don’t seem part of the social
fabric now.
Im not You are I think you upset a few people letting me walk you home tonight
They weren’t going to
walk me home tonight.
Theyd give you a lift
I didn’t want a lift.
Too bad Ive been aching to pick you up
Aching?
Yah I think under your clothingunder the pretty
colours the fabric under your feminine is a fit body a hard body Youll weigh a
stone
Probably some other time.
Id like some other time
she smiled beautifullythen
laughed she didnt cover her mouth
This is me. she said when they arrived Would you like to come in for a nightcap before heading home?
Id like that please Id like that very much
I thought you might.
Dont be reading my mind Hard to be spontaneous if youre parked beside me on the
curb listening
You say the strangest things.
I get that frequently But I think whats going on is people are
trying to say what other people want to hear Frankly I dont care If I gotta endure my thoughts Ill be damned
if Im going to endure them alone Im
taking you with me
You’re taking me? she flipped her hair onto one shoulder exposing her long neck
Whoa beautiful Lets not put the cart before the
horse A great idiom
Idiom. That could be a wet blanket smothering a
fire.
Maybe if you didnt know what an idiom is
It’s a condom, right?
Yah Stuffed with your id Cums in different colours For men and women
she smiled again
Thats a wicked smile Ya got a wolf or big cat in you
she ran her tongue across her
tongue
Youre not gonna say All the better to eat you with
No. I don’t think you’d
mind being eaten.
No Ha Were swerving all over
the road All over Not to say that I dont like the road or the
neighbourhoods were finding ourselves in Wha we drinking
You like to play games?
I wouldnt mind playing games with
you Whacha got in mind
he followed her into the
kitchen she opened the refrigerator door
and leaned in from the waist
Christ he said to himself what an ass
A game. I have beer. her voice was muffled she didnt turn to address him Dark
beer.
A woman after my own heart Although something tells me we both knew that
before we left the bar
Thank you. I appreciate the
compliment. her head still in the
refrigerator
Youre welcome An you neednt hurry on my account
Im looking for something to eat.
You wouldn’t mind a bite of something, would you?
Youre
killing me I could eat something
I didn’t catch that, you could
eat something?
I could definitely eat something
I have cheese. A salami.
Finger food Easy
she emerged with a bomber of Woot
Stout Swiss a salami she kicked the frig door shut with her heel and stood upright with the
food and beer in her arms You said you like games.
There you are I was missing your face I said I wouldnt mind playing games with
you Which isnt the same thing as I like
to play games
Whadya have in mind
Let’s sit at the kitchen table.
she set the beer down Could you open it, please? The drawer, left of the sink.
Happy to
she took a knife from a butchers
block beside the stove
I like your gas range I wish I had one My rentals electric Lacks passion
You like fire?
I like fire to sparks or glowing
A man after my own heart.
he
almost gulped And the game
Free association.
Youre not a shrink right We havent talked about employment an Id
rather not I prefer talking about you an
how you are an what turns you on Art Books Interests Not jobs
You’re not a bit interested how I make my money?
No
No?
No
Why is that?
How you make your money isnt who
you are Im interested in you Flesh and blood Im interested in what makes your heart beat
What if I said my job makes my
heart beat?
Id say you were fortunate One of the Few Mebbe one of the Proud A Marine Im not keen on soldiers Im not keen on taking orders
Possibly a gamechanger.
Possibly But you were talking about a game Free association
Yes.
he opened the beer and poured it
into glasses she kept in the freezer she
sliced the cheese and salami and laid them on a ceramic platter the platter was colourful looked Mexican
The game
Yes, the gam . .
.
. Toast first
Toast?
Yes Well never have this moment again Our first drink together in your home
You a romantic?
I am An I hope that charms the pants off you Not to worry though Ill be happy to pick them up for ya Toast
I’m not good at toasts.
Say what comes into your
mind Epic tends to be common
she held up her glass to his I’m not good at this.
Free association You laid the groundworks
I’m really very happy you offered
to walk me home.
Im happy you said yes
To happiness!
And you said you werent any good
at this Yes To happiness
they sipped the Woot
Woo damn this is fortified You been saving this
I was. I thought when I bought it
I was looking forward to who I might share it with.
Lil ol me
I dont think you saw me coming
I didn’t. I glad I held onto it.
Me too
he took a slab of salami off the
platter and holding it between his fingers he said I noticed you sliced big Committed
Thank you. I don’t like slivers,
I don’t like dainty.
Mouthfuls to sips
Mouthfuls to sips.
Free association Timelyhuh
she smiled again
You have dimples Im jealous I dont
she smiled larger
Rubbin it inhuh
I can’t help myself, you’re
making me smile.
Thats a good thingyoure enjoying
yourself
I am.
I am too Thank you Im happy ya let me walk you home Very unexpected
Unexpected. You like things unexpectednot a surprise . .
rather, simply, unexpected.
Yes A character traitI think My Maw always said it lend to my
charm She always thought I was the most
charming of her children She encouraged
me An nobody wants to let
their mother down
A Momma’s boy? I don’t think so.
No
Charming
Youre making me restless
antsy for more reason than one Lets try your game
Okay. I'll go first, you
associate.
Okay
Okay. Coronavirus.
Old news
Come on, play the game with me,
and you can’t say nineteeneighteen or polio.
Are you making the rules up as we
go along
Maybe. It also maybe in
your interest to let me.
Okay Ill concede Anif I havent said I like the way you think
Thank you. You’re ready?
You aren't balking?
I believe you know me better than
that Youah want me to go big
Big?
Yah Big
Sure.
Again
Coronavirus.
Tuskegee
Tuskegee?
You said big
Tuskegee. Untreated syphilis in
black men?
Untreated Negroes
Negroes?
Were playing yah Tuskegee But why cull the
sexes Title Two Civil Rights Jim Crow Lynchings Slavery Sent down river Jim Huck Inner cities ghettos slums Pick yourself up by
your bootstraps Anif yaint got boots John Shaft
Jackie Brown Pam
Grier
I need a breath
Go ahead
Nahwait
White supremacy
Now you can go
Awesome. Free
association. I didn't expect an avalanche.
Not against your rules is it
she shook her head the overhead light picked up the quiet red highlights
in her hair
Thank you Plenty to choose from
Oh yes.
Yes.
Tuskegee caught me off guard
Why
Very American
1833, Saturday,
18 4. 20
