home again. tired from sittin in that cramped skyhawk all day, but gotta be ready to do my thing, in just a minute. nod to moe on the porch. bump to mike at the door. yah, be back down in a sec. trudge up bare the wooden stairs. shake of regret at the shitty grimy bathroom straight in fronta me. mildew crawlin across cracked pink tiles and the broken mirror, flaking silver above the listing, rusty sink. at least no one's puked in the tub yet today. kick up the loose-rimmed seat before taking aim, let fly. bump the handle with a knee - cool, ain't backed up.
rap hard once at the right-hand door to the bigger bedroom. sounds like tammy. mebbe mee-mee's still here. gentler this time, tap on the smaller bedroom's door on the left. sleepy, guileless in jumbled coherence, her mumbles still bring a smile to my face. hell, sometimes the depths in her amber eyes still leave me gaping, gasping. an' when she's down, them eyes fills with a sadness that seems greater than is possible to accumulate in just one lifetime, kinda brings me to my knees.
hey beautiful. yeah, it's me, baby girl, it's me. glad ta see you too, but especially ta see you're still sleeping. i know it's been like a coupla-three days, so i know you needed it. wordless, lifts her arm and i come inside them, hold her close. kisses softly on my cheek, on my neck before snuggling closer for a little while.
yeah, baby, it's 'bout time to get up. yah, hun, i gotta bump for ya. no, no, ain't got none a that. 'side, you know we gots shit ta do. mebbe inna bit, k? an' you know you ain't doin a fuckin thing if ya get twisted this early. well, no, a coupla percs or vikes won't hurt. no - i tol ya! the o.c.'s are mine - my back's still fukked up from that shit we hadta do last month. here. hey, any of them wings left? oh well, didn't spect so. as long as they at least left some dogs, i'm cool. you did? aww, thanks for lookin out for me hun. love ya too. what? oh yeah, thanks for holdin that. need that. yeah, he's got that one and the ak too. nah, hun, i ain't seen it. probably with the mossy in the kitchen. i dunno, i've just always liked this lil bersa.
you done? cuz you got some left on your lip, that's why - here, let me get it... it's okay, we'll shower again after. nah, he'll be cool - just broke him off some of that fresh cookie. whatcha gonna do, huh? you know i do. hey, love is what it is, can't be nuthin else. k, see ya when ya get down. and hey, one more thing i gotta ask ya--whatcha say we blow this place for a few days, huh? nah, i got it covered; some chump, throw a lil bash--we just ain't gotta be there, whatcha say? well, i wuz thinkin, mebbe frankenmuth, or that holiday inn over in windsor. nah, t will be cool widit--me an' him already squared it. okay then? aww, coo' baby, coo'. hell, i even sprung for some fireworks when i was down there in toledo--everybody gonna get a kick outta them. you sure? okay, okay--i'll tell ya what, mebbe next month we kin go to toronto again. just not right now, k? cuz b said so, a'right?!
yeah, yeah, mike - i hear ya. otis is on it. damn. gotta fly. do me a favor, would ya - leave that damn freak for connie--no, not him--yah, him - them bruises is bullshit, k? one more thing, hun - be careful, would ya? i know, i know, you always are. muah.
back downstairs, smoke gettin kinda heavy again. so damn thick, i ain't sure it's exactly breathable, but then, it ain't got the balls enuff ta choke ya ta death, neither. damn, sure is good to be home again.
