Hey, Joe! (wharya goin with that gun in yer
hand)
Whats up Franklin Joe yelled as he was walking to the back of the
liquorstore he turned around and began up the
aisle
Joe! You won’t believe this.
Not usually he said not if I cant confirm
it
You trust my math on our cash
drawers so we can get the hell out of here, yeah?
I do I do not a job Id enjoy
Can I be sufficient confirmation?
Franklin in your case Ill make an exception
Excellent.
Thanks for not saying perfect
You and your perfection: it
doesn’t exist, not if mankind has his
fingers in it.
Joe replied Not with his fingers in the pieNo he stood across the counter from Franklin
Franklin was damn near leering at
himhis smile ridiculously large
So Why did I walk all the way back up here
It’s worth it.
Suspensehuh The suspense is killing me
It’s worth it.
You said that
I did. I just had to share with
you, particularly because it’s you. I don’t think this would have happen for anyone
else in this store’s employment or a fuckin soul I know . . . truly.
Should I blush
Nah.
That’d be out of character.
Usually Im patient but you had me walk the entire length of the
store because you herald me
Herald. I like that.
Like it some other time wouldja
Franklins smile grew impossibly
larger it looked like it hurt
I closed out your tender.
As you do every night we work
together
Yeah. But tonight’s special it’s
a special night, a special night too since that black girl was all about you. I
think she wanted to eat you alive.
Idve been all about being eatin
alive Her husband however certainly
didnt appreciate her unchecked enthusiasm although she was a little lit an people flee their shellscome out when
their inhibition is tampered withunlocked Or so it seems
Yeah. However you’re no different
loaded or not. You don’t keep a muzzle; which elicits those of us who do to
want to drop ours. But it aint natural to us.
Franklin youre young youve got time
Nah. Ain’t in the cards. She was a looker though.
She was
How old was she? You carded her.
I did Crazy
How old was she?
Whawould you have guessed
Shit. Now I’ll guess older than I
would have thought.
Maybe if I dial it down.
Dialed down, I’d guess . . .
thirtythree.
Fortysix
You shitting me, fortysix?
Fortysix
Wow. You know what they say.
I never know what they say or who
the fuck they is
Franklin laughed hard You never break character.
Breaking character would be acting I havent time to act for anyone
No. That would also be out of
character. What they saywhoever said it first beats the hell out of me . . .
Black don’t crack.
Ive never heard that before
Never?!
No though I understand its suggestion
And you told her to be sure she
thanked her parents; good genetics.
She has nothing to do with her looks except keep her health if she can They
were both in great shape Id say athletes
an athletes never give it up Not true
athletes
Like yourself.
Thank you Been at it too long to let it go
I ought to get back to it.
Dont ought to do it
Youre a fucking Nike commercial
in the flesh
Cant say I know what a Nike
commercial looks like If it aint in
print likely I havent seen it
Fucking Neanderthal.
Neandertal T-a-l Not t-h-a-l You ought to know since youve been on their dig
sites
Thank you for the correction.
Youre welcome So why am I standing here
Yeah.
Yeah
Your drawer. I closed you out, your cash, at fourtwenty
sixtynine. Appropriate, huh?
it was Joes turn to laugh
unabashed
Man thats cool Well thank youthanks for sharing Makes my spine a bit more erect
Not that you need confirmation.
No I dont need confirmation Youre scary Franklin
No. You’re the scary one.
2134, Saturday,
15 9. 18
1344, Sunday, 16 9.
18