the cat next to him left his receipt
on the bar
where did they keep that
paperChrist yellowed tea-stained he couldnt blame the guy for not wanting to
put it in his pocket it might spawn or
corrupt
he had looked around quickly for
a drink menu or a cocktail napkin or a flimsy coaster
Sonofabitch Papers paper
he
wrote a note on the back of the receipt with a red Bic that went
everywhere with him and as she went past him to the Ladies Room he slipped it to
her back to grade school
there was plenty of eye-ogling between
them but she was with a table of friends raucous women plying themselves with drinks or wine she was a shot and a beer girl sipped them appreciatively
he liked that they ganged up
to enjoy The Girls Girls girls girls
bounced out of their mouths as they shared storiesnever breaking into pockets
interacting as a whole
nah he wasnt going to step into thathe wouldnt think
to interrupt
returning she walked up to him
he hadnt been watchingdidnt see
her coming
Smooth she said
he turned to her Ah you read it I crossed my fingers he held them up to show her she laughedshe didnt cover her mouth her
stock was rocketing
I did, with some trepidation, it
looked like spoiled fortune from a rotting fortune cookie.
Sorry about that I saw you collecting your purselooked
around Fact of the matter beggars cant
be choosers
You certainly didn’t write it from
a beggar’s perspective.
Would you buy an optimistic
beggar
No beggar’s that optimistic.
Ill take that as a compliment
Please. I did have trouble, though, making out your
printing; usually that’s reserved for handwriting. Then it occurred to me that it
might be part of the intrigue.
Optimism I wouldnt believe needs
intrigues help I get that a lot Often people guess Im writing in Chinese
So, that said, I think I understood
it, although would you mind reading it to me for confirmation?
Id be happy to
some girls at her table began
calling her over Girls’ night, D! Desiree! Come on, D! she acknowledged them held up a finger motioning Wait In a
moment
Desiree
Yes.
Beautiful name It really suits you Parents must have seen into the future
You ought to see my parents. My
family, you’ll excuse me for saying so, is attractive.
he smiled at her Then you understand why I took a chan . .
. .
I don’t think you take chances, at least not without high probability of
success – which isn’t to say, right now, youre successful.
she smiled big dimples stock continues to
climb
I credit years of random
opportunities an being willing to fail an that
Im a little nuts
Your note betrayed you. Please.
Yes
I wrote Hello my name is Joe Cleverhuh
Rhymes.
Poetry Youre not immune to poetry not when you incit
. .
. . Read on, don’t get full of
yourself.
Anfun have humour Ya got a real funny bone
You like funny bones?
I do the things you can do playing a funny bone
right
she rolled her
greenagate eyes humour washed pleasantly
across her features he felt like he was
making headway head
for her head for him
as I was saying My name is Joe.
You said.
Yes
And? Get to the rest. I want to
be sure I translated it correctly.
her lip curled like a wolves
snarl STOCK!
WAY UP!
he
cleared his throat Our looks across the bar aren’t bringing us closer. You can see I’m
interested; you seem interested. So, I’ll tell you what, cut to the chase, have
a drink with me and we can tease. But if I finger you, I will split your brain
in half as if it were a shelled walnut.
Itll be nice, my word.
I thought that’s what it said.
Youas you said translated it correctly
Finger me?
Yes
Finger me? her eyes narrowedmaybe a little heat building
behind them
Finger you Guess you correctly Ill take you on a nice ride Desiree
OH.
he smiled at her and whispered Get
your mind out of the gutter
a
smile snapped on her face
Please, may I have a Detour and a
shot of RedBreast?
he called the bartender over Please Two Detours Two doubles of RedBreast Thank you
Okay, Joe, talk to me about how you're going to finger me . .
hypnagogic
0914, Twosday, 14 7.
20
1111, Day-between-Two-Ts, 15 7.
20