. . . We’ll take my truck. His place is
really out-of-the-way.
This is out-of-the-way
This really isnt, 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
