JR (111 page)

—Mmmmmmmmmm…

—Good Christ no … he came bumping the cartons past tub and 200 2-Ply —what the hell is …

—Man I just told you like when the rest of the group comes…

—Mmm mmm mmm mmm… Plunkaplunkaplunkaplunka…

—Jesus Christ listen this can't, well God damn it! he was down picking up a red mitten, paperclips, marionette in a tangle of strings — when the rest of who comes look God damn it …

—There's only like two more of them man, they…

He got the broken music box, car without wheels, a three legged sheep —look Al I'm working up here … a purple crayon, the Virgin one arm spread in mild surprise at the loss of the other, an arm cocking a bugle —now God damn it can you understand that Al?

Plunk. —Man like go ahead I mean I'm for everybody doing what they want to do man… plunka plunka —I mean that's how it ought to be everybody doing their own…

—Tell you something Al, if I did what I want to do right now you'd go out of here in a God damned sack. Now get this one up off the …

—Man look I mean he's having this identity crisis man don't hassle him…

—Great, all for him doing what he wants to too just tell him to go have it someplace wait, here God damn it give me that…

—Man like let him keep it what is it, I mean…

—It's a Wide Man what the hell does it look damn it let go of it! he twisted a turbaned figure clutching a casket from the desperate grasp

—bring them up Christmas Eve I'll tell them the story of Baby Jeeter and the Three Wide Men right now just get them both the hell out of here … he followed her hitching gait as far as the tub where she

stopped to finally free the other leg, followed the flap of sandals to the door where he dragged in a bundle of newspapers.

—Man like how did we know you'll still be here this morning… She balled the denim under an arm, shook the plaid legs out their full length —I mean like Bast he didn't come back yet?

The newspaper bundle cleared QUICK QUAKER to slide off and settle among lampshades and he turned to drag in a carton, —last I heard he was in Ohio…

—Oh wow. I mean like where's that. She held up the plaids —like I got him these bigger pants but I mean you really need them man. I mean like what happened.

He heaved the carton up past , dragged two more in past the sink —what do you mean what happened.

—I mean you ought to see yourself man, like I mean once they gave

Al this kidney test where he pissed purple right down the front of your pants and this black all over your face I mean you look like you didn't even shave since I saw you…

—Wash and shave as soon as I get these God damned boxes in been moving boxes around this God damned place since I …

—Man look out you busted the, don't throw it!

—Where in, what the hell…

—What does it look like I mean it's about a million book matches, I mean I just told you it's busted don't try and throw it didn't I? Now look what you did you got them dumped all over the…

—All right! look just get the corner there and push it in will you? Who the hell's sending a case of matchbooks…

—Man like who the hell's sending anything and I mean what are you pushing all these boxes in there around for anyway, you found your Tootsie Rolls?

—What my, no my notes no looking for a typewriter have to type this whole God damned thing over again cheese and tomato all over it where you and Bast…

—Me and Bast what man I mean like Schramm's typewriter it's right in by those brown books, I mean all this work you said you came here to do and you…

—Yes well God damn it look! get anything done here, get through one simple sentence without somebody banging on the door troop of idiots comes in to rehearse phone ringing…

—Man like so let it ring… she was unwadding a tattered scrap of newspaper —I mean like why answer it then.

—Because I've been waiting for a call… he scaled a bundle over Appletons' —waiting for an important call, now what…

—Look man I mean I just need to make like this one call okay?

She turned away to reach up and dial, drew his eyes up —whole God damned reason I'm trying to get this work done…

—Hello? like did you have this ad in the paper about… hello? I mean look my friend snowed me this ad in the paper where you want this girl to … No but like for how much, I mean … no but I mean like what do you want me to do screw a horse in … what like right now? I mean I can come now if … ask for Mister what? Like c h… i? c i… ? No man I mean I know where the hotel is I'm coming right down … She sank to 24-12 Oz Btls Fragile! to tie a moccasin —man like these pants I just brought you, I mean like can you give me five dollars?

—Five what do you, you didn't bring them to me I didn't ask you for them look I've got a suit to pick up at Tripler's why the hell would I want…

—Man like walk into Triplets like that I mean they'd call the police, I mean look man these cost eleven ninety-seven look at the tag and I mean I need cab fare they said come right down for this inter…

—Christ here take the five dollars … he straightened up from the last bundle of newspapers —well now wait what, you just sold them to me

what the hell are you putting them back on for.

—Man like I'm borrowing them I just said I have to go to this interview, it's like some publicity thing I mean how do I know what

they want me to do … her leg gaped fighting a foot back into the plaid from 24-12 Oz Btls Fragile! —screw a horse in Macy's window?

—God damndest customer loyalty to Macy's … he heaved the last bundle toward Appletons', lifted the door closed —how they ever earned it from such a discriminating…

—Man like once I bought this rug there you know … ? She got the other foot in, got up pulling them high —And I mean when it came the color really stank so like I returned it and then they keep sending me these fucking bills for it, like I mean I write to them and I go in there and I mean they won't stop man… she was down rolling a cuff up inside —so like it's a year later I'm trying to get this real job someplace working I mean I even buy these clothes and everything for it, so when

I come in they say they're informed I have this lousy credit reference for this fucking rug I never paid for and like I don't get the job I mean that was the last time man, I mean the last time … she fought the clasp —I mean this way I save them all this grief of some spaced out old bag writes these sales slips and sending you these bills and lawyer letters it's like simpler for everybody I mean what's wrong with that…

—Can't argue with you no … he pulled off his shirt, —Grynszpan has a similar arrangement here with the Edison Company … he leaned close over the torrent at the sink looking into the cookie tin top — Christ…

—Oh wow, man I mean turn around a little… she paused closer pulling on the raincoat, —like I mean that must have been some screwing man…

—What are, what do you think you…

—Man like what do you think I think, you were out picking blackberries? Like all these old fingernail scars right down your back man I mean she was really hanging in, like who was it that black haired chick?

He shuddered at her blunt finger run down from his shoulder, turned abruptly backed against the sink there —but what do you, how did you…

—Man like what's wrong I mean I just asked was it that black haired chick you were balling that time … she got the door, —I mean I bet she really stayed screwed…

He turned back slowly to the sink gripping its edge —Christ, what… reached suddenly up to seize his shoulder and try to bring it under his twisted gaze, then as abruptly thrust his head under the torrent, banged it on the tap coming up —God damn it … wiping his face, trampling film cans, reaching up a wet hand —hello … ? No he's … said he was having calls transferred to this number yes but he's not here, who … who? Can't accept a collect call from Mrs Eigen no, I… look operator I'll tell Mister Eigen she's trying to reach him but… said I can't

no! goodbye…

The gum wad bounded off the sill, rose, dropped again. He tipped the bottle over the empty cup —All I need right now little encouragement from Marian … he came down on H-O with the blue folder, set the cup aside emptied again —just need to loosen up a little, run through the rest of this before I type it where the, one eyed, good eye yes the good eye could now peer into Aris tripods here, tripods of Hephaestus which, says the poet, of their own accord entered the assembly of the gods, if, in like manner, the shuttle would weave and the plectrum touch the lyre without a hand to guide them, chief workmen would not want servants, nor masters slaves. For though the tale how for art's sake Wilde had faced Leadville's bullies to a standoff continued to amuse long after he'd withdrawn to join the compost smoldering in Europe with Pater's recipe for, fueled by Pater's no. The tale no. For though, and though the, for now the tale…

Long hand drove short toward the summit, descended into NO RETURN. Gum wad bounded, withdrew, dropped again —still smoldering in, no the compost ignited by, lit no, hell's that God damned dictionary … He tipped the bottle over the cup, edged closer to the sill as he raised it, put it down empty on Moody's watching the gum wad bound, rise again, gradually reached to raise the window, chin on the sill blowing gently. The curler wavered. The gum wad hesitated, dropped rose and bounded off. The curler wavered to the edge, rolled back, the gum wad rose. The long hand climbed from NO DEPOSIT. At the sill's edge the curler trembled and was gone, the gum wad swung aimless and slowly rose from sight.

—Get anything done here God damn it… he grabbed up the shirt coming through —catch pneumonia this way, hello… ? No now wait who do you … no company spokesman here right now no, goodb… never heard of Teletravel no, now… Frigi what? Look … no listen … look I don't know a God damned thing about filing an environmental impact statement on the… effect on marine life of disposing of what sound shards at sea look I don't know what you're talking ab … Yes well look if that's what their head of R and D testified before the Armed Services Committee what else do you want, if I was a tuna fish I'd… because I'm not a God damned tuna fish! now… President of who you mean the president of the company? here? are you out of your … Well look if he called you and… look if he gave you all that in a phone statement what are you calling… Look I'd like to be in Honduras

myself, now… because I don't know God damn it, good … no comment yes goodbye… !

He ducked to Hoppin' With Flavor! to tip the bottle over the cup — just stop answering the God damned thing call Tom work out some kind of Christ, try to call him there they'll tell me to call him here … he set the cup down emptied —now. For though, for now the tale how God damned tomato and cheese right down the, wonder how old that pizza is … he got a cheese clot off Wilde with a thumbnail, bit, blew it

out —should have brought something in damn it, shoot the pianist just get to the end of this God damned sentence shoot the pianist. For thow, damn it God damn it! His hands went white against his face, drawn down for fingertips to press his eyes, dig at them, fall away to leave them staring —find the God damned typewriter should have done this in the first place … he dragged the case from behind Thomas Register of Manufacturers, squared it on top and snapped it open — retype the whole thing right from, be God damned … he caught the stained manila folder sliding off the keyboard —wondered what the

hell happened to this … he opened it and turned a page, sank down on H-O with it and turned another, found a cigarette and brought the enchilada can closer tapping ashes, settling back against Won't Burn, Smoke or Smell tapping ashes, leaning forward to tip the bottle, back to where the sun streaked down one margin crossing closer to the other with each turning page till it had left them altogether when the peal of the phone brought him up steadied against Hoppin' With Flavor! —coming God damn it… against 200 2-Ply as he passed it on the fourth ring.

—Yes hello… ? Not back yet no goodb … oh it is? Put him on yes thought I forgot his, hello? Thought I forgot your message didn't you, sonorous torns of hone and kettle… the who … ? No no nope boss company president whatever the hell he is not here either hasn't called no, not a … you what… ? Wouldn't say that Mister Crawley, he prob … no no wouldn't think he'd do a thing like that good Christ see a fine man like you go under just for a little margin money, company like this one he must hold enough stock to cover any… closed down four points? God damned shame, what's… They what… ? Who filed it Piscat… God damned shame atmosphere of mistrust these days isn't it, old Piscator files an affidavit accepting service of the summons these lenders go ahead and attach his stock anyhow tell you what it is Crawley whole God damned decline from status to contract what's wrong with the whole God damned modern… Sounds like to me see them attach his stock to guarantee his court appearance sounds like they're trying to grab off his company what it sounds like, what's

wrong with the whole God damned country atmosphere of mistrust say incidentally Crawley, don't happen to be planning a trip to Honduras…

? Honduras yes, just happened to think you might bump into him down there, newspaper called says there's a rumor wait, listen … no no listen… hear a funny nose in this phone? noise … ? He held it up and shook it, started unscrewing the mouthpiece —what? Why not sounds like a God damned exciting place Honduras might be thinking of