he reallyreally enjoyed topsy
turvy sex on occasion might have been a little loud bellicose over the topmebbe overboard but reigning in his enthusiasm was like
bridling a wild animaldenying it its particular ways and nature
however a particularly surly old
man who kept a basement room in the boardinghouse did not like either his
enthusiasm or the young women he entertained
they never made a production on
their way up to his third floor room he escorted them up the marvelous beautifullyornate staircase
Once upon
a time it had been a manse
in that neck
of the woods only the Church could ever afford to erect such a structure might have made some want to consider blowing
off womens and commit to preaching the Gospel
not him
though not that he couldnt see the
other side of the cointhe argument aint
getting laid might as well live well
enjoined with the affections of your flock
speaking for himself hed rather
have sex with certain members of the flock
if the old man happened to be in
the parlour when he entered with a guest he couldnt seem to refrain or manage
or mind his Ps and Qs rather than sittintight
quiet hed get up off his ass and accost
themaccuse them of Fornication! Sin! who talks like that Surely
God will ruin of them, bring their Ruin down upon them. Why must you taint me and many others, infect us, who also live in this house?
he stared into the man rheumy
waterblue eyes Because I pay my way
exactly as you do anyer the only person
in this house who ever bitches
Stay out of my
business he might have said to the old
man but he did not stay out of my business an keep yers to yerself
I speak because God sides
with me.
Lotsa fools think Gawds in
their corner But take that up with
someone who buys into Gawd If Gawd then why is this a boardinghouse
they were already on the landing and heading to the next flight of steps
that hid them from the parlour
the old man said something
they were heading onto something betterto
do something much muchbetter
some more noise carried up the
staircase from the parlour
it was just noise to them
he didnt hear the old
man proclaim he was Gods instrument
he didnt hear his days were
numbered
Is he always like that? she asked He strikes me as deranged. What is he capable
of?
Capable
Yes, capable, is he dangerous?
I think hes more a danger to
himself than others Ive lived here bout
six monthsalmost six months and apparently Im the only person who drives his discontent
The only person?
Well me and who Im with such as yourself
How many times?
Oh couplethree times a month mebbe a couple of
months more It always occurs in the
parlour
He’s never confronted you
elsewhere?
He has a room in the cellar Ive
mine here Were a long way apart
I think he could be dangerous. Just now he
seemed unhinged.
he gently pushed her against the
wall took her by the shoulders and kissed her
then he pulled her to him
embraced her and whispered into her ear Yawanna see unhinged
she giggled Where am I looking?
Right here forking his fingers he pointed to his eyes
Oh my
Yes, you’re right. Unhinged, and
danger . .
she
didnt speak for a long while after that
night fell
he rolled off the side of the bed
and slipped on his pants over his nakedness Excuse me I have to use the water
closet
Oh, I do too. she rolled out of
bed and grabbed his shirt off the back of a chair I'll be real fast; can you keep?
Yah If not I got a mug here in the bedstand
I'll be back real quick. she said as she went past him to the door
giving him a lightningfast kiss on the cheek We can pick up where we left off.
And that was where he smiled
I’ll think about it and be right
back.
she opened the door peeked into
the hall one way then the other Nobody. I’ll be back in a flash.
Thank you though I prefer you flash me
the door closed silently behind
her he couldnt hear her going down the
hall
he was distracted by his bladder he
opened the bedside cabinethe had to go more than he thought and removed the
porcelain thunder mug
urinating loudly he mumbled Put a head on it willya and
laughed
he thought he heard something in the hall above his urinating he stopped listened nothing he finished
finishing he thought he
heard something again
he set the mug down on the stand buttoned
his pants up picked it up again and went out the door
something a shuffle
down near
the water closet Daphne he said as he
walk down the hall outside the closed
door DAPHNE he heard something DAPHNE
he tried the doorit was locked looking
up on the opened transom he saw a reflection on its glass lighted by the full moon he took one step backlowered his shoulderslammed into the door the jamb splitsplintered the door
swung in the heavy mug brokeurine showereda figure rushed himhe saw Daphne on
the floorhe saw bloodsaw a glint off a blade as the figure slashed him
bringing his left up he caught the blade
on his forearm it cut down to his elbow still holding the smashed mug by its
handlea jagged side remaining he smashed it into the figures facestanding him
uprightrepeatedly pummeled him with itnot letting him fall
he heard screams behind him womens mens then
hands grappling himpulling him backthe
assailant falling awayover backwards on top of Daphne blood spattered
everywhere they pulled him down into the
hall
then noisessounds became words Stop! Stop, man! My God! mens words women screaming
Once upon a time it had been a manse
the story told now was of a crazy
old man who lived in the cellar
who
murdered a young woman in an upstairs water closet
the womans amor killed
the old man with broken thunder mug
the story never mentions their
names
people arent interested in names
just the horrible story
an attraction
the boardinghouse never lacks
tenants
1213 or 0013, Twosday,
2 2. 21
1102, Thursday,
4 2. 21
