hadnt been a good day to be alone
which was to say to be with
anyone
be around anyone okay
Okay then he said to himself This is why bars were made
he took a shower
used Q-Tips
brushed his hair
brushed his teeth
dressed
took a walk
place was only a mileanahaf off
ordered a doubleIPA on tap threefingers of Redbreast
Start a
tab bartender askedthen hedged seeing him
produce cash
there was a tall café table two
chairs under a weathered 48-star America flag should have been
burned
took the seat facing the door
had brought Whitmans Leaves of
Grass paper folded inside it a pen
also James Varieties of Religious
Experience
Sto-Lat baby
sipped the whiskey
sighed began reading Rise O Days From Your
Fathomless Deeps
lookingup not that he knew
but it seemed a particularly busy night
bartenders expression informed
him
employee
if an owner theyd be grinning
returned to reading and scribbling
page numbers stanzas where on the page threefour word tipoffs
went to sip againEMPTY
had to remedy that readied cash fourth in line to transact
returning to his look at him being possessive table
saw
a young woman had slipped into the empty seat at
least she was that smart was leafing through James smarter
Evenin
Hello. Have you read this book?it’s
awesome. she was sipping liquor too
she
reminded him how cats slipunexpectedly into someones lap
attractive
she could pull it off
I have
I saw Whitman was open crazy
handwriting man . halfexpected you to be Asian.
No you didnt
No I didn’t.
I glancedsaw you entered a while back Alone
Saw you sitting . alone.
Who comes
to a bar alone?
We do
Could I buy you a drink for interrupting
your aloneness?
aloneness she got it
awfully smart
I woudnt say no
a quick bright
smile dimples
Great.
Redbreast. Sippin’ the same.
I overheard.
My wha big ears you have Grandma
she slapped the table openpalmed
Big eyes too. her smile got goin to grin dimples deepening
let her other obvious
bigness go
for someone alone to acquiesceconcede their aloneness
he wasnt
familiar
this would be
different
I’m baack. she said sweepingin
like an enthused raptor ifpossible grin bigger yet
I thought I wanted to
be alone this evening. Thank you for
indulging me.
Indulging Not frequently heard
Not one I usually use.
I’d
really have to think . I . . I can’t remember . . . anytime . I was going to
say recentlybut . . I think I’ve only read it.
no lie in her wide eyes
he heldup the glass she bought
To indulgence
Indulging indulgence.
Here
here
they tapped rims sipped
slick conversation ensued suddenturns switchbacksREVERSE streaks brakes heavilydlaced
with outrageous humour
frank
invariably sex
roiledup
after another whiskey and beer she
had walked too
Who walks
We do.
What’s your take on anal?
whiskey on its way to his
mouth pulled up short
Good thing you hadnt asked when I had whiskey in
my mouth
Would you have lost it?
Id choke before Id lose it
Hmm. Choke. Lose it.
Im getting a virginy vibe
looking him dead in the eyes
My
anus is virgin.
Not a finger
You?
Ohyah
Mighty enjoyable coupled with a
blowjob
I wouldn’t
know.
No
Though I can vouch its good when giving
head to a gal
Really?
Yah Sppose youll have to take my word for it
People take you at your word?
If they don they ought to
You’re truthful?
Truthfull with two Ls
Two Ls?
Brutally honest
Brutally?
Fraid so
Donwanna know Donask
But I have.
Anal
Yes.
Lemme say thisbout tha Anals easy
If it
were you an me
Id
pretend you were asleep an try not to wake you
That gentle?
Tha gentle
That patient?
Long on patience
Hmmm.
2213, Wednesday,
1 1. 25
1315, Thursday,
2 1. 25
