I got have a bear suit I really need a bear suit
in the same breath he covered need and want
which was peculiar for him
normally they were separate
he preferred invoking need
want he maintained wasnt necessary
she didnt flinch she did tilt her head very slightly Okay, what kind of bear? she asked despite knowing the bear it would be
Griz
A grizzly bear suit, a grizzly body, legs, claws, a grizzly head completely covering your head or a headpiece and your face decorated to look like a bear?
whoa he couldnt help but wonder if she hadnt given this some thought already how she was spooky presentso very thoughtful
Suit Headpiece Face decorated
I thought as much, I just wanted to be sure we were on the same page from the getgo.
Yes Apparently so right out the gate
Not an Alaskan Brown . .
. . No . .
. . Kodiak . .
. . No Griz You know
I know. An though you might find this hard to believe, I think I know of someone who might be able to help.
Wha no shit
No shit. You know me.
I love you
I do know you
Got no love for me
she rolled her huge brown beautiful eyes I’m helping you find a Griz suit.
You do
I do!
she didnt ask why he wanted a bear suit
it didnt matter
she told him to jump into the Toyota a Toyota shed had nearly twenty years
inside it it looked like a womans closetthe insides of a womans purse
she grabbed some prettyslipped tampons off the seat so he didnt sit on them
What no con . .
. . In the glovebox . .
. . doms
she fired him a ridiculous smile We gotta go, babe.
We gotta go now
Now, yes. He mentioned he might be leaving town. And when he goes he goes, no telling when he’ll be back.
Do I know him
Nope.
Hes a crafts guy aint he
He is. Completely unlike you.
Hed stay in Cotton Ball with youhelp you hash out your colour palette for the different quilts
He would.
Is he gay
Possibly. I’ve never asked.
He ever hit on you
You jealous?
Nah Youre married to me
Yeah. I know. Got an itch, wanna scratch it, tell the other first.
Yup Respect goes two ways
Yet again why I love you.
she went out of town over the dry river bed
they were in the boonies inside ten minutes
He lives out here
Tell me that’s a rhetorical question.
Stating the obvioushuh
No huh. Duh.
he looked out the sideview mirror and watched the dust kick up off the dirt road behind them he could almost imagine them as a spaceship riding on a tail of flames
Drifting on me?
Imagining
Drifting and imagining aren’t unlike.
They arent I was thinking how cool we must look from above he turned and looked at her Im also thinking how cool youd look and move if I opened your blouse unclasped your bra
I would, but around this next grove of oak is where he lives.
On the way back . . pretty please
Maybe, on the way back.
If Im disappointed because he doesnt have a line on a Grizwho is he whats his name
Jerald, with a J.
If Im disappointed and Jerald doesnt have a line on a Griz suit then yesdefinitely on the way home
I said maybe.
Im looking for a commitment
Ill commit youya keep it up. The Funny Farm’s white labcoats would love to play around, tinker, with what’s inside your skull.
Theyd find its filled with G-spots
Jesus.
We’re here.
a narrow dirt roadnah two dirt lines where tires ranran beside rusting and some snapped and curled barbedwire on rudehewed woodposts some were capped by rusted-out tin pails a few more festooned with old hats that looked like jerked beef weathered and hard
then the road opened a ramshackle lean-to appeared rusting hulks of machinery to its right inside it sat a not-as-rusted hulk chipped babyblue pickup truck
she veered leftbumping and bouncing as they went and stopped on the grass twentyfivethirty yards beyond them an equally ramshackle cabin save for some fresh unpainted board patches on its face and bright shingles on the roof
a lazy blue smoke rose from the riverstone chimney
she laid on the horn as she got out of the car Jerman!
Thought you said Jerald
You don’t know him; you haven’t been formally introduced. Then maybe he’ll allow you to call him by his pet name.
Pet name All yours Im happy to call him Jerald JERALD
Jesus. Woudya stop? You’re so loud.
He might not have heard you or the car horn
from inside WHO’S BELLOWING?
ME
WHO’S ME?
MEs ME
HELLO MEME! A walking, talking one. I can’t wait to see.
I think Ill like this guy
she winked I think he’ll like you and winked again Particularly in a bear suit.
Aint cosplayin babe
No. Though to others it might seem so.
Ive no intention of wearing it around others
she gave him a quick smile You’re no fun. as Jerald came out through wideopen standing door
Hello! Jerald hailed Cindi! Nice to see you!
Jerald looked to him Is it Joe, or Meme?
We could go with JoeMeme rather rhymes Jerman Doncha think
Formality be damned. I know Cindi’s keen on it, but knowing her one can’t help but know you too.
he was quickbuilt a lean rubberband he crossed the tall grass and wildflowers to them making up better than the halfway between them
Jerman hugged Cindi then extended his hand Joe. JoeMeme.
Jerman
they shook hands
So what the hell brings you out this way? Another halfhour you'd've missed me.
Thought as much. said Cindi We jumped in the car and beat it. I thought you might be able to help, or at least give us a lead.
For?
Joe interrupted A Griz suit
Jerman looked at JoeMeme no expression visitedcrossed his face A Griz suit?
Yes Please
I told Joe youd likely be our best bet. Cindi said
Well. You never aim to flatter, Cindi. I think I may know someone who has a bear suit; although I can’t say for certain a Grizzly suit.
Really said Joe
Really. We’ll take my truck. His place is really out-of-the-way.
This is out-of-the-way
This really isn't, JoeMeme. But Bobby's place is.
This really isn't, JoeMeme. But Bobby's place is.
Bobbys place was
they definitely needed Jermans 4wheel drive
they sat on the truck bench in line
Joe kept sneaking peeks at Cindis breasts hed have to recall this for some other time when he got his hands on a 4wheeler she could drive
Stop she eventually said slyly out of the side of her mouth
he wasnt as sneaky as he thought
he patted her thigh
Jerman talked about his family and Bobbys how they went back generations how the families owned the lands they drove through
Joe bit his tongue
Cindi patted his leg said out the side of her face again Discretion is the better part of valor.
Shakespeare
Huh? said Jerman
Sorry Thinking out loud Just ran across my brain Falstaff
King Henry the Fourth?
Chaayah You know your Shakespeare
I remember that Falstaff was in Henry the Fourth. Nothing beyond that.
Still thats good Better than most
Joe loves his Shakespeare. said Cindi Shakespeare, and foreign films with subtitles.
I do Every man and woman has their vices
Griz suit a vice? asked Jerman
I dont think so And it wont be if it doesnt exist at least for the time being
Hear ya, JoeMeme, fingers crossed. Bobby has occasions to surprise even me; why I think he’s a good bet.
I appreciate that I appreciate that this can also be a shot in the dark
Bobby’s great-uncle died, shot in the dark, by his wife when he tried to surprise her. Evidently it was out of character for him. She reacted completely in character. Never came to no trouble though. What happens in these hills stays in these hills. I always thought the families ought to sue whoever came up with that print for Vegas.
Or at least shoot him, or her.
Out here I hear ya
Cindi looked at one and then the other
Thanks for not being judgmental.
Hear ya Likewise
You two are a pair. said Cindi
Youre
quite the pair yourself babe
Would
you shaddup?
You two are quite the pair, whadaya talking about back and forth under your breath?
Im deeply in love with my wife Terms of endearment
His terms are less endearing. she gave Joe a quick shot with her elbow
Joe acted like it hurtOUCH Shes always so damn physical I love it
Well, quit your lovemaking while I’m driving; it’s distracting and I wouldn’t want us to slip sidewise and roll, not with these rocks around us. They’ve killed family in the past. Though, to be sure, they probably shouldntve been driving loaded or drugged up. The errors of youth, and being immortal, yaknow?
I do Cindi made me mortal
And you still married her?
I married him. said Cindi
We married each other . .
. . You only proposed trying to get me to climb over a barbedwire fence.into a hayfield for illict purposes.
Well said and yah that And because I love you
she tried to ice him with a sidelong glance
An I wanted to make love with you in that field
Cindi says directly to Jerman In the field across from my parents house.
Which would have been alright if you were able to keep yourself quietCindis vocal encouragement well the sweetest fucking things come out of her mouth
I could cum just listening to her sounds
That, possibly, might come under the heading of too much information, Joe.
Cum Jerman She drives me up walls and across ceilings Im a lucky man
And often I think, I’m not so lucky. said Cindi
Stop You know better Jermans a buddyhes seeing if he can get us a bear . .
. . Us?!
Yathink Im doing this just for myself
Oh, Christ! Jerman, turn the truck around, my husband’s delusional.
You’ll excuse me, Cindi, but evidently his delusions have kept you for . . how many years?
Yes How many years Cindi Joe asked
You’re the numbers guy, you know.
Fifteen years this September Jerman she knows shes playing her parther innocent part the child bride sold off by her parents better me than gypsy Id paid more
The gypsy would only steal her
Jesus, Joe, you’re so full of shit . .
. . And you fill me with it he leaned past Cindis bouncing breasts Jerman She says shes never met anyone like me She tells me that every morning
Im like waking up to a stranger every morning
He’s stranger every morning. said Cindi
Obviously, said Jerman strange has an upside
It do said Joe
they lollygagged in their thoughts and didnt speak
We’re here.
another ramshackle cabin squatting between brush and patches of grass and wildflowers and leaning woodframed outbuildings
a well
an outhouse
We live simply, profits are pure profit. said Jerman
Good job if you can get it
Somebody's got to do it.
They do
Now Do they have a Griz suit
He’s always to the point. said Cindi
Direct
Shortest distance between two points.
Thank you Jerman
You’re welcome.
Don’t let me come between you two lovebirds. Cindi rolled her eyes
Doncha love how she rolls her eyes Cindi says more with her eyes than most people say with their tongue.
She does.
I can see you appreciate my wife
I cherish her; otherwise I wouldn’t be up here right now, I’d be twenty minutes into where I thought I was going ten minutes before you showed. I cherish your wife.
Thank you
You’re welcome. Jerman leaned on the horn BOBBY!
Christ Whos bellowing now
Bobby’s deaf in one ear, long story, my fault, you have to project when you talk with Bobby. BOBBY!
Youre gonna make me deaf in one ear. said Cindi Lemme out before you go off again he looked over at Cindi she sat between them with her fingers in her ears
You knew this was coming
she smiled Coming, c-o-m-i-n-g, or cumming, c-u-m-m-i-n-g? Sometimes I have a hard time following your threads.
C-o-m-i-n-g
There you go, threw me a curve, usually your cumming; c-u- . .
. . Gotcha I can spell
Joe and Cindi were out of the truck before Jerman BOBBY-ed again I told you, he’s deaf in one ear; and he’s usually armed. Long story.
BOBBY!
FUCK!
YOU’D THINK I WAS DEAF.
YOU
ARE!
Yeah.
There’s that. Jerald?
YEAH.
Jerald
We’re formal. Our families don’t allow pet names, as Cindi would say.
Bobby
He’s Bobby on his birth certificate. His parents never cared for the name Robert.
A long story
A long story.
Shall we, gentlemen?
they both looked around at once for gentlemen smiled at each other they were pretty funny
I’ll not be redundant. Cindi said
Jerald. That’s you, right?
It
is.
coming out of the door hitching up his pantsbuttoning his fly I thought you was gone.
Almost. they closed ranks However, offering a little help to my friends.
Joe Cocker. I don’t have any dope right now.
Not that help.
Usually it’s that help you need to offset any trip you've planned, you’ll excuse me all ta hell. Bobby saw Cindi Hey, Cindi! he went around Jerald and hugged her I should have looked before I opened my mouth. You’re never in the market.
releasing Bobby she said I am not.
But I did see him, whoever he is, behind you.
And I look like I do drugs
You don’t look to me like you’d deny me if I asked you one way or the other.
I would not But then you didnt ask did you
I did not.
So what brings you three up here, Jerald?
A bear suit.
A Griz suit interrupted Joe Dont wanna waste your time if you dont
A Grizzly bear suit? Bobby was obviously enjoying the turn of the conversation
Yes
How’s this Grizzly bear suit look?
Like a Griz
Construct? Whas yer name?
Ah, Christ, I didn’t introduce him; Joe, he’s Joe. My apologises said Jerald as he halfturned back to Joe I terribly sorry.
Bobby, this is Joe. Joe. Bobby. Joe’s Cindi’s husband.
We heard she had one. said Bobby he took Joes hand in his mitt squeezed his hand firmly he didnt shake And not only is he living and breathing . . but he’s looking for a Grizzly bar suit to boot.
I am Jerald thought you may Though possibly not a Grizzly bar Joe winked
Understand. said Bobby But then, who the fuck would want a bear suit other than Grizzly bar, huh? Jerald would’nt’ve brought you up here if you were looking for a Teddy or a Panda bear; wouldja, Jerald?
No.
No. Cuz he’s got them down at his place. Doncha, Jerald?
I do.
Construct. Looking for head or a headspi . .
. . Careful, Bobby, head’s a dangerous place to go with Joe here. He sounds to be a liberal thinker.
You a liberal thinker? Bobby asked sucking his teeth
Will it cost me more if I am
You a liberal thinker?
I try to be a literal thinker but that leaves too much ground unfurrowed and while I like untouched earthappreciate its natural beauty I also know that if you want things to grow ya gotta plant seeds
Bobby moved his mouth as if he was chewing on Joes answer
A headpiece leaving my face unmasked
Bobby looked asif he swallowed what he had been chewing You’re in luck, boy.
luck shot through Joes brain like a bullet
he didnt remember much
Cindi must have taken things in hand
he was already in his head coming down out of the hills with Cindi no Bobby no Jerman she was unclaspedblouse open he was bucknaked under his bearskin
Mygawd
Life is a wondrous thing
1246, Twosday,
31 3. 20
1751, Sunday – with three stops
inbetween, 5 4. 20
