he didnt come by the forest
preserves too often anymore
when he was younger his family
held picnics there polacks as far and
wide as the eye could see and he was
related to every one
as a teenager at one such picnic
his mother found him Come, I have to
introduce you to someone. she took him
by the arm and walking over to a pavilion where men were playing accordions
people were dancing she talked about a distant cousin she used to write as a
girl and when she had emigrated to America they lost track of one another Oh look, there’s Maria’s daughter; come. when he looked where his mother was
looking the girl had turned her back and was facing the pavilion the
festivities as they approached her his
mother called Stefanie! Stefanie! Stefanie turned I was looking for
your mother. I’d like you to meet my son, Joseph. Joseph, this is your cousin
Stefanie.
Ah he saidhe nodded to Stefanie her colour rose Weve meet Mom though nice to formally meet
you Stefanie he took her hand warmly and
shook it
Oh hello Joseph; nice to meet you.
informally they had met down by
the dam part of a looseknot of teenagers gathered to get high
they got stoned together
immediately liked one another
slipped away from the clutch
had sex by the river on the blanket
Stefanie wore over her shoulders because she wasnt keen of the blouse she was
wearing her mother insisted she wear it
the blouse was a little square
what was inside the blouse wasnt
one thing had lead to another
it was hard to say who laid who
they hit so many postureswere on
top as often they were down
Thats an unique blouse Stefanie though it doesnt quite compliment you
she smiled widely deepdeep dimples
No, I don’t think so either. Thank you for noticing.
Heck youd look good wrapped in a blanket
She would, wouldn’t she. his mother said Stefanie, you’re such a beautiful girl;
someday you’ll make someone very happy.
Some day he said
You’re
killing me Stefanie whispered
Ya
nearly killed me
he looked around the woods horse paths open fields a pavilion brick barbecues the light was brighter at one side beyond a
stand of birch where the river was wide and reflected the sunlight like a
mirror
some trouble was
taken to sand it the water ran
shallow the bank was gradedsanded
too it made for a small attractive beach
to sun on water to wade or swim in
colourful blankets old worn
chenilles picnic baskets pinning them were scattered across on the luxurious
grass hard to beat Illinois grass made one dream of being a grazing animal a happy lost ruminator
he crossed a horse path through
some high weeds then to the woods edge near the river upstream from the
beach
he laid a blanket down anchored it with a cooler inside sandwich meats cheese fruit beer he smiled to himself the blanket was dappled by shade
sunlight nearly 50/50 he took off his shoes striped off his shirt
bundled them into a rough pillow he had
a couple of books pen and paper in his knapsack
though first he was going
to lavish himself do nothing think of
nothing sip a beer close his eyes
he hadnt finished half his beer his eyes were closed the dark inside them grew darker
it remained
it wasnt a cloud
he opened one eye lazily
it was a shadow
Hello he closed his eye
Hello to you; you’ve quite the
spot. a womans voice
Thank you
It’s my spot.
Your spot Well in the past youve had quite the spot
Id be happy to share your spot
Share?
Novel ideahuh Itas you can see is a huge blanket
Yare
welcome
Welcome . . to my spot
Correct
I aint moving Im settled comfortable Im relaxing musing Yare also welcome to the
cooler beer water fruit sandwich Help yourself
Consider it a tribute
A tribute?
Yes
Either the internationally recognised historic
tribute an offering or we can schlapp recognise it as a Tenacious
D Tribute
Tenacious D?
Uhhuh
I don’t know what that is.
Be very careful yare risking your
tribute
Ill take it you have
a smartphone Take a gander
she sat downquit throwing
shade
he could hear her tap
Oh, Jack Black the actor.
Careful revealing your age
My age?
Did you peek?
No Im relaxingmusing Ill sputter the first thing that comes into
my mind cuz Id rather not
Accepting my tribute
she said something he didnt quite
catch it stir made
no sense ster hyphenated
–ster monster spirit sprite
forest spirit –ster is not spirit
sprite fuck it he felt like a nap
Help yourself sister maybe it was sister maybe he cracked the code
he almost nodded off the breeze lapping him held him
conscious it was nicecame off the river the water an woods smelled goodhe almost
wished he left her room so the breeze could have come off of her too
salad of scents
Are you awake?
I am
Did you fall asleep?
No hypnagogic
Hypnagogic. Hypnagogic . . what’s
that?
First D then hypnagogic
Look it
up doll
she said something he didnt quite
catch it again
Im sorry I
missed what you said
Nothing important, I was mumbling.
Earlier you said –ster or
something like that when you sat
Yes.
An
Maybe . . mister?
Joe Im Joe
Joe, I’m Ginny.
Short for Gennieve not Virginia
Yes, you're right.
rolling onto his hip to face her
he opened his lazy eye again wider
focused Oh man yare a youngsterHa
Someone younger than you’s a
youngster she sighed I’m no youngster.
Could have fooled me yare very beautiful
Thank you; you’re in my spo . .
.
. Edumacating you
he opened his other eye to take
her in stereooptically
gym shoesno socks short shorts tanned softlooking scoopnecked pullover she
shifted braless
Ginny
Yes?
–ster
It wasnt mister I didnt call you sister Didnt know you were a youngster Wha
I was upset.
Yare no longer upset
I’m not, no I’m not, Joe.
Good
Have a beer Tell me whaya said
Ginny opened the cooler her breasts tussled like a pair of
puppies very becoming
You?
In a bit thank you
she used the attached corded churchkey
uncapped her beer took a deep draw
headback an attractive throat freckled a freckled chest
she brought the bottle down smiled at him dimples green eyes reallystrawberry blonde
Ah, that’s refreshing.
Part of a worthwhile tribute
her smile grew wider
Part of a
tribute.
Excellent now were getting off on the right foot
Whadidyasay –ster Not monster either
No. colour rose in her face Not monster.
Yare killin me
I called you a cunt, a cuntster.
Cuntster havent heard that beforesuppose we cant Google
that
No.
Creative Im a big fan
Whadoes
cuntster describe
You were a cunt, I use cuntster,
I’m adverse to saying cunt.
I understand butah no more
No. You’ll like this . . you’re a
good egg.
First a cunt then an egg
Yare turning me inside
out How do I look
You look like I like you.
I like you too
Says the cuntster to a youngster
Stop.
Ive only just begun
AMish, Twosday,
7 9. 21
1424, Thursday, 9 9.
21
