was in a bar Ogallala Nebraska off Eighty near his motel

older fella saddledup beside him

by his dress appeared to be passing through too

Excuse me, may I ask what you're drinking?

Shot an a beer

Could I buy you a drink?

                           I got an hour houranahalf thereabouts to burn an bored easily. I’m less bored if I’m gabbing.

Shots Redbreast Doppelbock on tap

fella called over the bartender

                                 A round what he’s having, please.

Gotcha.  waltzed off with purpose 

I’m Harmon.

Joe

shook hands

Traveling through?

Town strikes me locals drink at home

Fair that. I’m passing through too. Home’s in Colorado.

Im heading to Illinois Parents home

bartender set the drinks down  Openin’ a tab?

No thank you. handed him two Twenties

Right back with the change.

he set it on the bar in front of Harmon

Butte, Montana.   Have you ever been?

I have Crossed from Sula Fortythree through Wisdom Wise River took Fifteen north to Butte Was flying out to San Diego

You haven’t stayed?

No  Overnight Dinner Motel

So, you’re unfamiliar.

I am

There was an old red brick building there near Copper King Mansion. It’s been razed.

When they razed it I made a trip from Missoula, was living there, a teenager, before I was drafted, made a trip to pickup bricks.

Bricks

Then I was a hodcarrier for a mason. After Nam I returned and became a mason.

Bricks  A pallet pallets                                          

No, no.  I was a teenager.

Yasaid

          The building the bricks held some significance

Significance. that amused him he laughed

                                               I . . I wouldn’t go that far.  A memory. Bunch of guys. Five.

Went over to Butte to lose our virginity at a whorehouse, the razed building, the whorehouse.

Thas refreshin  Callin it wha it was

It was a notorious.

Ill take you word for it

The whore we were with was older than my mother.

We

I told you five.

Took turns

We did. Cost three silver dollars.

Wastha  inexpens . .

. . Cheap.

            She was a cheap whore.

Were there girls at a higher price

I could only afford three dollars. Might imagine there were, but I couldn’t afford more.

Seems . .

. . I couldn’t afford mor . .

. . Or you were the one thawas cheap

I couldn’t say.

   The bricks you fetched Tangible memories   Not fungible

Fungible.  Fungible bricks.

                                  You could say that. Not that I’d ever forget.

Nor I Harmon

               Nor I

1412,  day-between-2-Ts,  21  2. 24

1221,  Thursday,  22  2. 24

https://southwestmt.com/ghosts/ghost-stories/dumas-brothel-hotel/

he might have waited for the Snow Full moon Saturday 7:30AM EST  however itll be a micromoon apogee  furthurest from the Earth he could appreciate it not wanting to be soiled

                                                             though had he revealed Trumps dead under its minimal light

1,199,333 this evening who have diedwere murdered are magnifiedpronounced under the tears of family and friends who survive them

1,195,325 Americans had died as of 5February

     4,008 Americans in the 17days between  236 a day

                                                               yet the formercorrection the House twice-impeached rapist fraud four times indicted – 91 felony counts former hawks garish gymshoes cheap cologne

1947,  Thursday,  22  2. 24

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

Yes  yesyes  yes yes     he had a hard on for Tolkien

                                                           though not for the usual Hobbit Lord of the Rings reasons 

he was able to get through Bildo Baggins called him dildo  youthful enthusiasmexuberance  plus it made him laugh when the faithful the Hobbitheads gathered and discussed the books

                                                                         JESUS

his hard on was engorged for Tolkiens  cellar door

                                                     talk about a swing an a miss

he wondered how many faithful of then now had cellardoor as a password to one thing or another

cellar door is the most beautiful word its two words in the English language its the aesthetic quality divorced entirely from its meaning  Hobheads referred to its euphoniousness youre phonyestness  he preferred of course he did phonaesthetics  ardently

and for the freaks who clamoured cellar door he soughtlistened for read for  alternatives

took in a beaut yesterday

                            he was talking on the phone with his old boss Ralph who except for military servicefought in Korea has lived since he was three months old in Montana

they were ramblinghad had too much fun working together  which unfortunately came to end when Ralph wouldnt take him on as an apprentice

Ralph didnt want an apprentice

                                  despite that

he agonized over it for three weeks before telling him  honestly   he just wanted to work not teach

it was his experience that some teachers he had could have learned from Ralphs example

Ralph flashedback

                   Ill tellya Joe, not only did I appreciated your hard word your attention to detail, but when we were out an about, going through town, in different hamlets, how the ladies were attracted to you like moths to a flame.  Dammit. I can remember one particularly girlie.  I can see her now.

                                                              If I had my druthers I'd've had a piece of that pie.  But I thought, young,  he musedcould hear it in his voice  too young, too damn young.  You know?

It would have been San Quentin coil.

cracked him up

                      San Quentin coil

he could almost hear him nodding

                                 Definitely. Definitely.

   another phonaesthetic

1412,  day-between-2-Ts,  21  2. 24

1111,  Thursday,  22  2. 24