said object

Swimming in the deep end we discovered the object. It was hard and cold and had curled its body around itself. Why it chose the water, I wasn’t sure. Was it a creature that could breathe under water? It was hard to say. We carried it out of the water and set it on the concrete patio. It was still for a long time and Auggie touched it with his wet fingers. He said it felt hard and still almost like plastic but now it felt warm. The creature stirred …

The rivers and valleys of the world reside in the silver swirls of the bear. Often when he’s placed on a shelf, I sit and am mesmerized by his heady form. But like others he keeps his back to me and is not trustworthy. But this has its advantages because you always learn more by watching the backs of men. What is hairy is reproachable and stunted. Clean, smooth shaven is a sign of clarity but proves often to be shallow and insipid. Hunched is the most stable and …

They bring the bait, we bring the beer and we’re all happy that sunny afternoon down by the creek until Sal shows up and brings a cloud of hazy doom. We had caught ten fish by then, Meg kept running her lacquered rose nails over their scales and Harold stared at his knees all day. Sal brought a container of vodka and wanted to make martinis but I said martinis don’t gel with fish and grass and a rough and ready afternoons like this. That’s a crock, he exclaimed and …

Bone dry and on the field we watched Bud restless with the club but he never made it. Was the target too far? Was Gil ever going to leave him? That stroke is far too swift, mean really, like Bud himself. He’ll never make it, will always miss the target. We got up before noon to be here but we’re not sure it’s right, have a place to sit and grin and shoot the shit and the sky is gray now, time to go home and drink Martinis and watch …

Cow comes to me at night, near the swamp by the old Sasparilla field. I wondered why as the smell of peppermint or anything minty sickens him. He asked me quietly if I could get rid of the the new bull that arrived at the farm. What bull, I ask, Tim or Rocky? Tim is a fat fellow, his previous farmer bulked him up on hormones and lard. Rocky is far too muscular, they say he was kept in a city kid’s backyard and ran around in circles all day …