the mirror at the end of the hall

he hung it for her

the bathroom mirror was plenty for himhe used it so he wouldnt cut his throat shaving with a straight razor

she had wanted it

he wanted her to have what she wanted 

he obliged

but she wasnt there anymore

it taunted him

that was okay

it taught him selfcontrol to keep his temper

he was volatile

any challenges he could confront and not lose his shit were teaching aides

school was difficult for him

teachers didnt help matters

had they been good teachersnot just making a buck he might have been less difficult

he rebelled against their manipulation

Well young man said every principal every dean in every school he attended it seems you have a mind of your own. What are we going to do about that? 

                                           Is that rhetorical 

Im doin Wha arya going to do  sir

the punishments would have been bettermight have convinced him if they were creative

Spare the rod, spoil the child. on rare occasions He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. Proverbs 13:24.

he supposed while he was a kid they were all religious kind of like political office if you didnt believe in God you werent going to be elected

whats an atheist to do

                        Tell you wha sir  lets flip a coin 

                                                          Not rhetorical

he even pulled a quarter from his pocket

his money was no good at school

the mirror at the end of the hall

the fog in the glass was clearing

1824,  Sunday,  31  7. 22

1108,  Sunday,  14  8. 22

On your mark 

   Get set 

     Go

 

     NO  Questions about going on Three

What questions?

Yes Yamean one – two – three - and we go 

                                                Or

Do yamean one - two an we go on three

It’s not that hardwhy do you have to make things harder than they are?make them so confusing.

Goin on three presents two optionsways to go they differ  hence why Im tryin to be accurate precise

Just follow my lead.

I cant

You can’t? 

NO

     I don follow anyone particularly when theyre unobservant You didnt see whahappened with the clock just now

The clockwhat clock?

Right across the street on the corner In the park Look  Were facing it

Why you looking at the clock?

Im observant

No I didn’t see . . I wasn’t looking.

Wha time does your everpresent cellphone say  Ya have a fixationman Theres no reason to my mind it ought to be around when were taking lunch    

it laid on the café table between them

I like to be available.

Text or call youll be rude

It’s not being rud . .

. . It is Yare not being present

                                   Wha time

he looked

            Twelve to three, two fortyeight.

Look at the clock in the park

he looked 

            Six thirty. 

Six thirty doesnt look like that 

                                The minute hand yes the hour hand is nearer Seven

he looked again

                  I’m not sure about that.

Horseshit ya know damn well 

                                Don be contrary You grew up reading clock facesreading time 

Does it?

Damn right it does 

                     I saw the minute hand it was shaking as it neared the Nine The hour hand shaking  as it neared the Four its hands trembling  Then they collapsedfell

The clocks dead

Times died

You’re ridiculous. he looked at his cellphone the screen was black he poked it with his finger to wake it DAMN he depressed the power buttonheld it 

                                      it didnt work 

Grab your bootshold onto your hat something BIGs comi . . . . . . 

2237,  Sunday,  14  8. 22

1133,  Monday,  15  8. 22

REM  It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OyBtMPqpNY

Pink Floyd  Have A Cigar  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbdpv7G_PPg

he took a leak in the sink 

                            because

there wasnt a urinal anhe wasnt going to waste water

                                                           evenings

he took leaks outdoors

its really nice to have a yard

1647,  Sunday,  14  8. 22

he looked out the bedroom window

                                    was just wakingjust saying good morning as he did every morning to his lost loves to run them through their paces of his or memories they shared with him visualising them before he said good morning to the next 

   ritual 

             as close to religion as hed ever get

hummingbirds perched on a feeder were suddenly tentative  

                                                              he got a little anxious

theninasudden they exploded into the air the bowling ball hurtling through them like a bullet                                                                                                                               lil tike was aggressive he was smallperhaps the smallest a dab of scarlet visible at his throat

the feeder danced on plastic fishline off a plant hook screwed into the fencepost 

                                                                                  the five feeding using it as a springboard 

they had been a whirla blur then rockets

he went onto his elbows then sittinupswung his legs off the bed stood at the window

bowling ball circled back 

he fed victoriously

might even have belched when he finished

then agilelycausally lifted in reverse

but before leaving he sashayed sideways to the window and peered in at him 

                                                                                            Yawanna piece of me?

tilting his head backmaybe chortlinglaughinsnorting he ascended fluidly straight up

its not often one can watch a bowling ball rise

1722,  Monday,  1  8. 22

1217,  Sunday,  14  8. 22