two small women if they were any smaller hed be able to eat
them like black olives off his fingertips like when he was a boy
they
looked as tasty as black olives
they worked at the market he frequented
Beatrice he called her Bee appropriately
she worked the Courtesy Counter
because the market was a chain it consistently made corporate mistakes which
benefited it a wronged item five dollars
or less he was reimbursed his money and the item was free
not
curiously the wrong price was always more than advertised the shelf price ansince he bought very few items at a time
ancalculated the approximate total he was imminently aware if corporate screwed
up
he was on fire
or rather they were
last four times he was there they
were wrong
he was getting to know Bee well
We screw up again?
They did not you Bee
Lucinda he called Lucinda she worked as a cashier anwas always playing with her hair colour she reminded him of psychedelicswirled cotton
candy but not on a stickOHNO he was amazed
how much was packed onto her frame calling a
four-nine woman curvaceous seemed ridiculous but that was the word
he didnt expressly try
to be in her line but whenever he found himself in it he was delighted
they
had breezyjazzy repartee
she said she was a reader
she knew several
of the books he reading it was his habit to
bring a book because it was also corporates thing to make people wait there were seven check-outs but usually only
three were manned
or one could go to Self-Checkout where
mistakes were also being made however no liquor sales were allowed to be transacted
he liked his beer
it was on an occasion that he decided
rather than have a beer at home hed go to a bar that broadcasted professional
football it was Monday best thing about the broadcast was that it
was muted it was like going home
Billy the
bartender sharp guy jazzy too Billy the usual
Ya got it, Teach.
Billy called him Teach because he said he
looked like a teacher that was likely because whenever he went he was by himself so he brought a couple books pen and paper
evenif there was football the void of pregame
halftime there was always time to read or write
a letter or whaever roamed in his mind
Thank you Billy he handed him a card to start a tab closed out with cash
Yabetcha, Teach, rooting for somebody
tonight?
Cheering for the Chiefs
Aah, I thought you were smarter
than that.
I havent any skin in the
game unlike you I imagine
Yah, suckers, fans, some real yahoos
in here, they’re easy, an I don’t feel bad taking their money because I play
the odds.
Odds I don gamble work too hard for my money
Which means if ya did bet you’d
probably back a winner . . not a fan are ya?
No Me an fandom don mix
Smart teacher. somebody called Billys name I gotta go, excuse me, Teach.
he arrived earlier than he
thoughthad thrown the canvas bag over his shoulder and walked despite reading he made really good time he thought he stop more than a couple
of time to make notes
he took a small table along the
brick wall faced so he could see who entered pulled out a clipboard and pen and sipping
his beer looked around at the characters
he didnt know a one
ansince that was the case he worked from Lockes
clean slate tabula rasa
then
in walked Bee and Lucinda
they immediately saw him waved enthusiastically
he heldup a peace sign
they motored over to him
a couple of real sprites
he stood Bee Lucinda Whas up girls
Jesus, it was a Monday at
work.
Bee nodded in agreement It was crazy, so Lu and I decided we needed a
drink, put the day behind us.
Lemme help Ill buy you a drink we can get to know each other better then ahead of the gamemaybe the day behind
you youll be able to enjoy each other rather than bitch
Aww, I like to bitch . .
.
. Lu’s really good at it, she’s amazing, she has the best insults you ever
heard.
A sharp tongue Lucinda
I can be acidic she
winked but it can
be soft too.
Ooh yes, very soft. giggled Bee
You girls are nuts Tell Billy to put your drinks on Teachs card
Teach’s? they remarked as one
I can see that. said Bee
Yes. Definitely. Lucinda said Can we call you that too? she
pouted Bee seeing her pout stuck out
her lower lip
Comon girls sure whaever
turns you on
Seems we got ourselves a teacher,
Trix. Lucinda winked a second time Trix
laughed bawdily
he joined into their laughter
Sounds like you two
are going to be a handful
he wasnt one who spoke of the future
he ate them off his fingers like
black olives
late evening, Day-between-Two-Ts, 12 10.
22
1211, Monday,
17 10. 22
