Guntszer handed me the bottle <br />and I gulped deeply <br />the sweet wine rushing down my throat <br />then I gave the Thunderbird to Clarence Lee <br />who didn’t swallow <br />but instead poured a bit <br />into two small bowls on the floor <br />one for the cat <br />one for the dog <br />that done he took a swig <br />finally Guntszer got his turn. <br />The Longest Day played on the TV <br />an ancient thirteen inch black and white. <br />“John Wayne is one tough bastard, ” said Clarence. <br />“A candy ass, ” said Guntszer. <br />“Robert Mitchum was a real life son-of-a bitch <br />first one to smoke weed in Hollywood <br />got busted for it <br />didn’t give a shit <br />a man’s man.” <br />Guntzer lifted the bottle to his lips <br />and finished off the Thunderbird <br />so I opened the second <br />and passed it around <br />and once more Clarence poured some <br />into the bowls on the floor. <br />“What’s the cat’s name? ” I asked. <br />“Tia.” <br />“The dog? ” <br />“Tito.” <br />“How come he only got three legs? ” <br />“Found him that way.” <br />“Tia only got one eye, ” I noted. <br />“Found her that way under the boardwalk <br />rats had her cornered <br />a kitten so they had the upper hand <br />now she eats their assholes <br />every chance she gets.” <br />“Even with one eye? ” <br />“Never forgot that first rumble— <br />now if a mouse sneaks in <br />she bites the fucking head off <br />then plays tiddlywinks <br />with the carcass.”<br /><br />Charles Chaim Wax<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-fight-renewed-with-great-violence/
