rolled his eyes

                   A girl and her gorilla  Really

Whastha all about

Would you read it to me.

his niece

he was visiting from out of town

he was watching her because his brother had to suddenly go

                                                                     somewhere

he didnt elaborate

                      was a prick as a kid

she was sitting on a loveseat before the big front window in the livingroom that looked out onto the street

conceding he walked towards her but looking left he saw crossing the street heading up the block kittycorner an old man a familiar man from when he was a kidthought him dead long ago was struggling with a twelvepak of beer and an armful a brown paperbag filled with groceries

Tellya wha kiddo  Lemme run outside help Mr Townsend with his groceries an Ill be right back  You sit tight

Where?

Watch us out the window

she spun onto her kneesbelly against the back of the loveseat book in hand

                                                                                 I think he’s going to fall down.

My thinkin too  he said as he went out the front door

heading down the stairs to the walk the public sidewalk

                                               Mister Townsend Mister Townsendhold up  stop  Ill helpya    

the old man likely hard of hearing kept walking but now  unsteady began to sway

                                                                         Mister Townsend

he broke into a run

old man went down he might break something

                                       Townsend

that might have been an error on his part

                                            the old manlifting his head trying to look over his shoulder the weightshift threw him out of balance if one would dare call it that and his sway began to make a long lazy circle so as he ran up on him Townsend was lost beginning to stumble backwards looking at him  bodily continuing right  it seeking to complete the circle

                                                    Townsend Stop

feebly  I can’t.

               he started over backwards

reaching him a phantom arm snaked out of Townsends chest a phantom arm shot out of his and snagging the twelvepakthe groceries with his hands their phantom arms grabbed ahold of their shirtfrontsyanked them upright  stabilised them

                                 their motions ceased

their feet firmly under them

as the phantom arms withdrewWhaya doin yaoughta be usin a cart    

Joe? Joseph?

Joe he shifted the beer and groceries into his arms  Only you called me Joseph Mister Townsend

                                                                                              Wha the hell

adamantly I can carry my groceries.

Jah  Second later youd have been on your back groceries scattered beer box broken

                                                                                         Mebbe you

No you cant

I used to carry the groceries home for you  fuckin    fuckinyears ago

    And you left.  like a gunshot

I did  have your bearings

                            Ill walkya home carry these inside

Like you used to.

Like I used too

Thank you. I would really appreciate that.

Yabet

0750,  Monday,  1  12. 25

1238,  Thursday,  4  12. 25