he had work on the coast a roof to do  sundry other repairs

figured itd take him threefour days

coming into Summer southfacing beach  seventyfivish daylight

                                                                        called Allison

she thought it was a great idea

                                  You think I, we, could invite Becky?

Hellyah Fingers crossed timings right

Hellyah. she laughed  I know Becky she’ll call in sick.

    twenty minutes

                      Becky called in. We’re on.

Awright If you wouldnt mind Im head out ahead of youhave some material to gather  woudya an Becky I assume pickup provisions four days whatever you like Ill cover you when you get here

That’s not necessary.

Then you cant come

   Thank you

You’re welcome.

Seeyouse soon

                 Well go out for dinner

 

the girls played went shopping while he worked

they called him in for lunch for dinner

he showered in an outdoor stall

                                   came swinging in fresh as a daisy singing I Feel Pretty  a favorite  West Side Story

Allison and Becky laughed did every evening

                                                 which set the stage drinks  appetizers

girls knocked it out of the park dinner

 

two days in he recognised the job would go five

   Five. Allison said I’ll have to scoot into work, file a few things, make a couple of calls. Back by dinner.

                                                                                                                she chuckled

Becky was cool said shed be gone a week

they partied hardy on the beach blankets down made a fire  dug the full moon

                                                                                     howled at it

he did what he could on the ground prepwork

Allison was gone Becky still asleep

had to wake her had to go up onto the roof

rapped on the door

                      through it said he hated interrupting her snooze

I’m up I’m up. It's okay.

Awright then Im up   Fresh coffee Becky

Thank you. Is it a nice day?

Youre welcome A bright blue day no wind

Thank you.

Yah

on the roof he heard her shower rumbled in the bedroom

                                                             come downstairs into the kitchen

she walked out onto the deck  JOE!

YAH

COFFEE?

NO THANKS looking down caught her as she went in caught the crown of her head  brunette  thick   ringlets

he smelled her breakfast thickcut bacon potatoes green onions eggs sourdough toast

made him think about lunch

                                whettedtickled his appetite

 

he heard the door open

Becky emerged into view

under her arm a blanket beach towel in hand a thermos

                                                              cherryred two piece

the girl was built

he watched intermittently rapped the hammer  sounded like work

                                                                      she spread the blanket out

straightened it

unfolded the towel

turned her back on the sea

dropped to her knees

untied the back of her top

the suit hung

she looked up at him

                          Joe.

Hey  ya tryin to incite me

Incite.  she hmmd

                      then still looking up at him she lift the suit up over her head slung it around the back of her neck  held it

still looking at him

                     Excited. I hoped.

 

    Ill be right down

I’m not moving a muscle.

 

 

that night the girls were making dinner

Allison yelled to him Fifteen Joe.

Ill shower an be in

                     he scrambled off the roof

Have fresh sushi as appetizer.

Youre killin me

Saki.

Oysters

Of course

           Think I don’t know your tastes.

Thank you.

turned the water on

came in singing I Feel Prettystopped

                                       they were side by side at the kitchen sink their backs to him they turned were dressed in full redcheckered gingham aprons  retro  edges done in white ruffles  covering belly to chest a heart narrow at the waist rounded lobes at the breast  a white heart pocket pointing to their groin

                                                                                            thats was it

grinning Allison said

                        I understand we’re finally moving this relationship . a head.

he smiled

            Well put

earlyAM,  2sday,  12  11. 24

1516,  day-between-2-Ts,  13  11. 24

West Side Story  I Feel Pretty   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgHtBxOs4qw

The Graduate  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3lKbMBab18

they were building a jigsaw puzzle

Youre pretty good at this  Its been some time

You’re not shabby yourself.  she winked

                                           that appealed to him something fierce

I’m happy you’re back.

Happy to be Whens Manuel supposed to get home

    Home?

               Please don’t call this a home I don’t know.

Whenever.

Anthat will be too soon.

                             Another whisky and soda?

Notice I refrigerated the soda so you wouldn’t have to suffer ice cubes?

I did I apologise I didnt remark

                                  Youre certainly taking good care of me

she smiled

             Suffer . . ice cubes. Who’s ever heard such a thing?     

    I do because you take me as I am. under her breath I wish you would.

Sorry  excuse me

Nothing. Nothing. I’ll be right back.

they were crushing the puzzle

                                 Allison  didnt dare call her Allie though she was somewhat an alleycat when they were growing up  not that he complained she always favored him   a lot  would jump up they were making it on the hardwood floor when a record was over flip it or throw something else on sit again   crosslegged he couldnt if he tried

sun through the glass warmed them

front door open

gentle breeze

neighbor cattycorner came out on her balcony they were in the crotch of the ell she yelled about how quickly they were making the puzzle

                     Allison gave her thumbs up mouthed Thanks Becky

Shes awfully fond of you  It appears

Allison grinned  mused

                            We’re fond of each other.

She  is  built

Yes she is.  grinning again

Want to do another?

they finished the puzzle

sun had set

Allison turned on a couple of lamps

Have a fivehunred piece or less

I’m sure I do.

Yahsure

    while they had been puzzling the telephone rang Manuel  into the conversation   he fit pieces like a madman as Allison talked wasnt listening   overheard

                                              What do you mean why’s Joe here?

I see who I want when I want.

                                  she took the wireless  went into the kitchen

when she came out she set the phone on the receiver

                                                          Jeez, leave me a little something wouldya?

I ordered pizzas.

he didnt have to ask extra anchovies shed eat a couple slices hed eat her savage vegetarian

Manuel staying with a . friend . tonight.

                                           friend came out nasty   outdoors she would have spit

His loss

           he recognised her upset  her defiance    The End nearing

she fitted the final piece in

he always let her

last nail in the coffin

they stood looked down  admired it

                                          We’re good together.

Yah  Since kids

pizzas had come

they sat on the sofa and ate the puzzle at their feet sipped beer small talk listened to music

    Howbout this puzzle?   exotic colorful South American birds in the jungle

Great choice

Five hundred pieces.

                       she set it on the sofa bent over he watched  was happy where he stood  admired the back of her legs  she squatted  admired her assJesus  from under the sofa she pulled out a squared piece of plywood  laid it atop the puzzle   shed enjoy it in the light of day with her morning coffee before dismembering it

    Say

Yeah.

I have some hash in the ca . .

. . Sweet!

           Fetch it. I’ll light some candles, incense, break these bad boids out of the box.

Bad boids

I said it. Go.

I prefer fetch

              she crossed the room to him got up on her toes kissed him on the nose

Fetch.  giggled

he fetched

            she placed three floor pillows around the board  unboxed the boids  began flipping pieces faceup separatingout edges

                      heard Becky on the balcony  went up to the window  Where’s Manuel?  she threwup her hands  I like Joe.  she nodded waved  Becky waved went back into her apartment

he returned  they firedup a bowl got things rolling

he woke before she did

                          clothing in disarray pants open Allisons blouse open bra pushedup over her tits

her nipples begged he couldnt resist

                                       rolled onto his belly onto his knees  simultaneouslypinched her nipples  gently shook her 

she wokedidnt open her eyes  mused    smiled  blindly groped for his cock

                                                                                  let the games begin again again    again

    Becky had heard  watched  masturbated   fell asleep on her balcony

                                                                                 heard  was watching again

Becky wished she had a camera

earlyAM,   2sday,  12  11. 24

1208,  day-between-2-Ts,  13  11. 24

INEKT  Deviant  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c50xdj-NNTk 

theres a new game in town

                               its called Where’s Melania? 

fashioned after Where’s Waldo?

White House to be her Airbnb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7jC8QtKDF4

    Niiice

2134,  day-between-@-Ts,  13  11. 24

his hypnagogic pensee was paired with sleek visuals cast on a summer breezequivered sheer curtain

    Ahha

No As here bub.

she knelt opened her blouse wide

fortunate traffic was slow light

   she asked him for a ride 

8AMish,  day-between-2-Ts,   13  11. 24

AGAIN

       stubborn Microsoft WORD insists it knows better than him what he wrote 

reason why he disabled Spell Check on his smartphone

                                                             it aint smarter than him

wrote half an inch as haf inch then merged them hafinch (did it again) which all-knowing all-seeing faultily-omniscient WORD “corrected” to hawfinch

                                      Whadadfucks a hawfinch

    Googled it

exists

       is a type of finch distributed in the whole of Europe Eastern Asia “Paleartic? in North Japan” North Africa “Morocco Tunisia Algeria”

    Paleartic

               “a zoogeographical region comprising Eurasia north to the Himalayas, together with North Africa and the temperate part of the Arabian peninsula.”

hawfinch

           a large finch of impressive proportions  eighteen cm tall  enormous conical bill  thick neck and head to match

Fantastic

learned something new everyday

                                    but

he lives in North America

his computer is registered in America

so why change his hafinch (did it again) to hawfinch

yes

     those who are willing to let machines have their way with them social media unwilling to vet suspicious – no one suspects no ones sceptical – posts and articles

Dont want to work that hard?

machines and those behind them and those who benefit from users ignorance are going to have their way

hear Whore

             ought to take a goodlook in a mirror or a reflective business windowpane

  

1038,  2sday,  12  11. 24

https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/visit/where-see-wildlife/where-see-winter-wildlife/where-see-hawfinch#:~:text=The%20hawfinch%20is%20our%20largest,to%20a%20few%20remaining%20strongholds.

thoughtfulnessmindfulness put spurs to him  always have

                                                                 thats how he arrived fresh from the womb

though he couldnt begin to say how cautiously he moved in life

                                                                   deliberately small taste by small taste

his younger brother and sister rode twowheelers before he did

learned to swim before he did

    he had reason

                     was badgeredharassed for being lefthanded made him hesitant   made him stutter 

righties have no clue

theyre status quo

he didnt have scissors not school desks not baseball gloves  not shit

                                                                           he had to learn to be ambidextrous

had 66 cousins

was the only lefthander

not one of his fourteen aunts and uncles  not one of this huge extended family

                                                                                       easily was one of a hunred

 

his grandmother tied his hand closed when his Mom left him with her

she returned earlier than expected one day and hailed Hell on her mother

teachers

           were disgusted  unforgiving

did their damnedest to flip him

                                   forgetting

they couldnt flip a brain

but when he finally caughtup  became unbound

                                                      his stuttering ceased he became confident

and encouraged he learned how to ride learned how to swim 

in a new school they moved  WENT   CRAZY

                                                   yet

his thoughtfulness mindfulness remained intact

he learned there were a thousand or more phoneapps computer sites promoting it

                                                                                       his daughter told him

she admitted she had several

needed them to remind her

    his heart ached

wondered if he hadnt let her down

how something so ingrained in him didnt present to her

                                                           he taught by actions  not words

    he apologised

Don’t. I saw. I did.  Was so effortless for you.

                                                 Always work for me. You’re lucky, Dad.

Run with it.

1627,  Monday – Armistice Day,  11  11. 24

1229,  2sday,  12  11. 24

he threw the boneswere playing backgammon

                                                   Acey Deucey! Yeah!

move a piecepieces one space then two spaces then any doubles four moves and throw again

he scrutinised the board

was being beaten badly

 

    he stood

                I’ll be right back.

Christ whereya goin

Going to move my bowels.

Whereya movinem to

HAR HAR.

Wanna take the board with you or woud tha constipate ya Facin a big move

                                                                                  On the board

Don shit on the board

HAR HAR.

Youre so easily entertained

                              Regrettin ya used the doubling cuberegretting your hubris

My hubris!

            You didn't hesitatedoubled it again immediately. I gotta go.

Board

Fackno.

Think shits backed up into your brain

                                          FUCK NO Whaswid fack

Go

I’m gone.

while he was in the bathroom

                                he thought to read Your Inner Fish Neil Shubin mebbe Roddy Doyles The Woman Who Walks Into Doors

                   nixedem

instead went over to the puzzle  difficult madeup of triangular pieces inspired  made moredifficult because of his catsDOWN he had been losing his voice barking atem whenever he took the hafinch plywood off somehow was like crack to the cats

                   uncovered it stealthilythey werent even in the room

had hoped they werent crazy for the vinyl he playedBAM all four right there asif he had gonged a dinner bellSTAY AWAY

asif cats listened

                    asif they understood English  wondered what language they did understand  hed learn it

HELL WID IT

                  covered it with the plywood  returned to the bookshelves

Bermans Holding the Line

                             picked it up  sat with the backgammon game 

he knew crappers move if crapper were smart  he knew crappers throw after the doubles would expose him and on his turn hed pick up the blot place it on the bar and itd languish there for several turns

                                                                                        he was uncanny when it came to tossing dice  on too many occasions hes called beforehand what he would throw

PISSed opponents off

    Hmm

              maybe he did move his bowels    

1012,  2sday,  12  11. 24

Origen Adamantius     Awfully adamant

                                              Ever hear of him cocked his head

No. Can’t even pronounce his name what again?

Origen  Like origin cept the second I is an E

Awright.

Adamantius

Heck of a name. Guessing old school.

Truly

        Since finding out about him I refer to him as the Man of Steel

Man of Steel. Lookin’ to piss Superman off?

Oh  I think hed agree with me no upset probably break a sweat compassionate as he seems to be

                                                                                                        TVs Superman informs me

And comicbooks.

An not

Whadaya mean and not?

Didnt read comics growingup

                               Once borrowed two from a friend an my Maw shreddedem Told Tim wha happened Id replaceem he told me I coudnt older issues an defriended me

Walked out of a room if I came in

Only literature in our house

Jeez.

       But ah, what about the science fiction you talk so fondly of?

Hidem in the garage widda Playboys

                                         Scifi were to me as comics were to you

Playboys?  How?

Connexions

              So before ya get too roused Origen Adamantius Man of Steel  Bet hell cool your jets

Really? How so?

Get a load of this

                       Cat castrated himself

Took Matthew literally Chapter nineteen Verse twelv . .

. . How do you know that?

Occasionally I drop in on the Bible Crucifiction   Tells good tales

                                                                     Good for a chuckle

Why I spend time during catechism kneelin on broomsticks

Jeezus.

Yahanyway Gospel of Matthew describes men who get this I quote Make themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heavencant make this shit up But to be fair people then were closer to the Churchs beginning an desperately ignorant

Coudnt read

              Thas why all leaders like ignorant people psychopaths sociopaths tha they are  Can cow can herd can manipulate

Origen Adamantius took one smiled wryly two for the team

Jeez. Ah.  Ya vet?

Yaknow it

            Early church historian Eusebius of Caesarea after Caesar perhaps capital of Israel major Roman seaport He was an exegete expounder of scripture regarded as one of the most learned Christian during late antiquity Died 339 CE Common Era Current Era not AD After Death

    Man of Steel.

Yabetcha

Thursday,  20  2. 14

1126,  Monday – Armistice Day,  11  11. 24

https://inpress.lib.uiowa.edu/feminae/DetailsPage.aspx?Feminae_ID=32094#:~:text=The%20early%20church%20historian%20Eusebius,(Matthew%2019%3A12).

Paul Tillich

             Man can hardly escape the fate of becoming a thing among the things he produces, a bundle of conditioned reflexes without a free, deciding, responsible self. The immense mechanism, set up by man to produce objects for his use, transforms himself into an object used by the same mechanism of production and consumption.

FUCK

       how come when he looks in the mirror to shave hes not that ugly

maybe hes not looking hard enough

                                                    maybe

he had some humility  a matter of havingholding himself in perspective

                                                                                   maybe

definitely didnt like the label Thing

knew some Things 

who happily submitted to being manipulated

 

 

Thanksgiving.

Yah

You’re coming.

No

Come on.

I told you no

               Whamadeya think Id reverse myself

No means no

    You’ll disappoint me.

Youll deal with it

Come on . .

. . Their your blood Im related only by marriage

                                                    I don suffer fools

What am I supposed to tell them?you’re gonna be missed.

Wishem a happy Thanksgiving for me

    So when is this . . . animosity going away?

Disappointment

                   Profound disappointment

Im fine wont be missing out

Joe . . .

Enjoy your family

early this century

0958,  Monday – Armistice Day,  11  11. 24

https://aeon.co/essays/my-grandfather-paul-tillich-the-unbelieving-theologian

I suffer

    sympathetically  What’s wrong?

Im Gods left hand

                      He uses me to wipe his ass

Thursday,  20  2. 14

2044,  Sunday,  10  11. 24

Evanescence  Bring Me To Life  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YxaaGgTQYM