deleted name
(writing): located somewhere between fetal aclohol syndrome...
The doorbell’s
first ring sounds initially as if from within his dream, and is as such
ignored; it is the second burst which alerts him to its actual occurrence in
real life. Brother Skunk clambers frantic out of bed and down the stairs, aware
that at this whatever hour after midnight the noise is loud enough to wake
those several houses adjacent on either side. Mercifully his landlord is
absent, summer holidaying at his sister’s.
He finds her stood
holding a half-emptied bottle of Moosehead in one fist
ache1:
This was supposed to be for you but
holding it up to
examine its remnant
ache1: I
I, well I finished mine on the way
and then I got ah, I got thirsty, so...
she shrugs and he
reaches out to usher her quickly into the hallway at the bottom of the stairs.
Her other hand is occupied with the little vinyl E.T. doll, in whose carrying
is manifest her full faith in that relatively recent stitching that continues holding
it together regardless.
ache1:
Hang on though hang on, I brought something for you,
correcting herself
ache1:
for for us.
dropping E.T. now
to the floor and then rifling through her coat and trouser pockets, drunk
enough to lack any method that would prevent her from re-visiting those whose
lack has already been confirmed.
ache1:
Fuck sake, they’re here somewhere
setting the green
glass bottle aside on a conveniently nearby table to continue her pursuit now
with both hands, which does eventually yield a brand new deck of playing cards.
Skunk (bewildered):
This, you
then as if in the sudden
realisation he is awake
Skunk: Wait did you
walk here? Did you walk all the way out
ache1 (oblivious):
Stole ‘em from the hotel, I thought we could play poke-, strip poker
Skunk: Jesus Christ
I don’t, do you even know how to play
watching her pitiable
struggle to slit the fresh pack’s little paper seal with a fingernail just that
degree too short for the task.
ache1: I’m,
well,
handing him the
deck
ache1:
Here, you, we could even, we could just cut cards
Skunk: That’s not,
and even, how’s that fair
indicating his
pyjamas
Skunk: if I’m
wearing exactly two pieces of
clothing?
ache1:
Well hang on hang on, just...
carefully lowering
herself to the floor alongside E.T. and then taking an agonising amount of time
to remove the shoe and sock from first one foot and then the other, before
standing unsteadily to
Skunk: Don’t do,
don’t, come on
unhearing, dropping
her coat to the floor and next lifting her t-shirt over her head and pushing
her jeans down to her ankles, from which she struggles to extricate herself
ache1:
Wait... wait...
finally stood now
in those two items as remain and as constitute her underwears, the faded welts
even yet still much too visible across her stomach.
ache1:
Okay? So now we’re even? Proceed.
Brother Skunk bends
to gather up her discarded clothes and shoes
Skunk
(sympathetic): Come on, Jesus, you can borrow some of my pyjamas.
taking her arm in
his and helping her climb the stairs.
ache1:
Okay okay...
laughing
ache1:
..as long as they’re Levi’s pyjamas.
deleted name (writing): ..and immortality.
