descending the drive slowingpreparing to go right to descend more he hit his brakesGAWDDAMMITthrew the car into PARK yankedlocked his parking brakepushed the fucking door out of his way  exited

muttering he squatted  gently pickedup the crushed squirrel walked to the side of the blacktop cleared leavesdebris with his boot created a shallow rut placed the unfortunate animal in it then gentlyagain covered its destroyedbody with loose soil  leaves

rapped on the front door

buddys wife opened the door

                                Joe.startled  she stepped forward put a hand on his shoulder  Are you okay?

Your husband in

My husband? George.  He’s inside.

Could you get him please

Won’t you come in?

Ida  No thank you

                     Could you please get George

Step insid . .

. . Ill wait here thank you

                            he stepped back onto the porch

Ida didnt question him  shed known him long enough  he didnt do a thing he didnt want to and since his wife died he was constitutional   utterly irrevocable

it wasnt wise to provoke him

I’ll get him.

Thank you Ida

                he shut the front door for her

What’s going on Joe?come in.

You should come out

Come in.

Ida. he called into the house  Outside with Joe.

Shut the door

Christ. You’re in a vile mood.

Wasnt

        Then I had to stop on the drive

Why would you stop on the drive?

I might ask why you woudnt  This wasnt Idas doing

What wasn’t Ida’s doing?

Your doin

My doing?

            You’re being awfully cryptic.

Anyare fuckin’ unthinking

What do you think I did?

The dead squirrel

Oh, did I hit him?he ran onto the drive

   You saw

Obviously.

You coudnt wait for him to clear the pavement

It’s a fuckin’ squirrel for God’s sake.

opening the door Joe called inside

                                    Ida  Bring ice for George hell fill you in  Gotta go

1316,  2sday,  30  7. 24

303preferred,  Thursday,  1  8. 24