— 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 ljust 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…!
