he asked the barkeep for some more peanuts

                                                Ananother beer  the same pleaseAn  two fingers of Redbreast  Please 

he was distractedwas watching the picture on the television screen  it just began rolling  the bartender wasnt able to get it to stop

              a slow roll

actually it made him pay keener attention to what was being said  or explained

the barkeep returned  peanuts beer Irish

                                            he shelled peanutsthrew them on the floor  he was pretty sure if there was a heaven he was sitting in its lap

                                 more so if the roll stoppedsuddenly he was transfixedsmitten by the reporters name flashed on the screen under her chin

                                      Whoa Kenny he said to the barkeep  Whadaya make of that name

he looked  Unique. Kenny wasnt impressed

Unique  thats all ya gotUnique

A mouthful.

Better that’s better

                    Wanna go again 

No.

     Kenny looked down the bar  Excuse me, I think I’m needed.

he didnt look it was early afternoonthings didnt pick up till Happy Hourshours off 

                                                                                       Ya better go  Ill likely enjoy it more by myself

           he took a red BIC pen from behind his ear and scribbled the gals name on the paper held in the Bear-of-a-Clip clipboard he rescued from a trashcan at a military base  he was driving truckdelivering desks for a furniture company  he thought he might be creeped inside the facilitythat THEY might know he refused the draft  rather than report he went on a crosscountry road trip and stayed on it for three years until after Nam was buttoned upHow the World’s Mightiest Power Lost the Viet War was the headlines on the Miami Herald  how he ended up in Miami he couldnt remember the exact circumstances  though honestly in all likelihood it was the port where lots of hashish went through and he liked it  want fresh corn  go to the Midwest  entirely sensible

                                                            the clipboard was functionalthe clip sloppy  a sloppy clip was character  he was a huge fan of character

                                             and scars

before Happy Hour Kenny walked up to him 

                                               Renne called, she traded hours with Evelyn, she said if you were here to let you know. You know.

Thanks Kenny more than you kno . .

. . Ohno, I know, if I wasn’t a married man and have this bar to lose, I’d run against you.

Youd lose

You think.

As yasaid I know 

                    Ya can imagine Kenny lemme settle up  Fixing or replacing the tube 

Awwell, I think I’ll have to enter the future, the wife’s been after me to replace it and hang one or two other screens; you know, appeal to younger clientele.

Theyre idiots Your beers second to none Your place is the only place I tout in this one-horse town

What the hell does that mean, one-horse?

One-horse one-whore Small man small

I thought so; say Hi to Renne for me. Wanna put the drinks on your tab?

I don keep a tab I want you to have your money immediately Don want you going anywhere

Hello Renne he said as she opened the door for him  I had my fingers crossed youd carry out your threatblow off work make our rubber match

Rubber match? I’ve dominated you.

DominatedI took you out back last night and spanked yatanned yer fanny Ill grant ya got the best of meoverwhelmed me the night prior I sensed you liked me though I didnt imagine that much

Didn’t imagine, your imagination is an artesian well, why wouldnt you imagine?

For the obvious reason lookin outside in

Have you always been inside and outside of situations?

For a long time nowa long time I wasnt always patient or thoughtful Now I cant think otherwise My girls say Im mindful now to a fault

                        Speaking of which have you ever heard the surname Goodykoontz  saw a female reporter on television with that name

Lemme guess, erotic images?

Haha must say I immediately thought of your koontz

                                                      Anhow damn goody it is

You sweet talker.

Yaought to shut me up

Before dinner?

Call it an appetizer

I thought we’d call it dessert.

Well call it dessert too

                        I don think Ill ever get enough of you  But its early 

Shaddup.

Yes mistress Goodykoontz

they were enthusiastic

                       she nearly broke his nose

2016,  Day-between-Two-Ts,  14  10. 21

1339,  Thursday,  14  10. 21