he had retched violently

 

 WHO’S OUT THERE?

                         she called from the kitchen window overlooking the backyard

it was nearly ThreeAM

bars bootya at Two give or take a buddy owned the barhad been his old mans

   Christ Maw

                Who the hell woudbe out here

he was still leaned over feet well back had held the pear tree limb while fingering his throat to vomit  vomited plenty

had to disgorge

                  rather out there than risk in the house

I donknow Maw Who the hell woud be out here throwingup in your backyard

two years earlier they considered cutting down the pear treeseemed on its way out but it seemed  vomit rejuvenated it

it shot new shoots  fruited again   who knew

Is that you, Joe?

Does it sound like me

I can’t tell, your voice is garbled.

took a breath  Yah

                     Just finished heaving

Your brother’s still not home.

I suspect hell be shortly We were at Shortys Christened the new pool table

                                                                OUT OF THE WAY.

he stepped aside

                   Bobs home Maw

Bobby lunged for the branch no small task graspedhung like an ape by one armfingered his throat VOMITED COPIOUSLY

   You boys.  Good night.

We loveya Maw

slapped his brother on the back

                                  Ill get the hose

handing him the end Bobby

What?

Let it run a bit in case of spidersyah Ill turn it on

                                                     over his shoulder Toldya not to mix

he ran the water

returned

rinsed his mouth out

                       Ya good

I’m good. Bobby thumbed the hosecreated spray watered the moonlit iridescent slicks

Be back

turned off the water rolledup the hose

                                          strolled back to his brother

Whyya here?

queer question

Got to the bar couple hours ahead of ya Hustled some knotheads their losses paid my tab at Richies

Shorty’s.

Shortys dead

Yah I know.

Yah Class A guy

Yah. Put nipples on bottles for us when wewas kids.

Yah  Brought us up right

That a joke?

Joke

Upright?

           After wewas bent under the pear.

Joe slapped the underside of the limb  Good tree

Bobby slapped it too  Great tree

they didnt make it inside

grass was inviting they laid down side by side in the moonlight and went to sleep

freaking comfortable grass

                             nowhere in the world they wouldnt know otherwise had as comfortable grass

1140,  Monday – Memorial Day,  27  5. 24

0952,  day-between-2-Ts,  29  5. 24