orangetoughguy | log post II

Personally [let the man continue] I haven't seen any baby birds that big. Have you?

[They can keep talking about it if Freddy really wants to. His stomach and mind are set on the fish tacos. There are four of them with two orders of the beans and rice. Delicioso. Hands for the tacos, the rice and beans get the fork. Crunch crunch.]

Not that big. [Freddy concedes before taking a bite. Then he continues.] I've seen some pretty big fuckin' geese though.

[Chomp chomp nom. The kid talks with his mouth full and with a hand flapping.] Those shits are real sons of bitches. Peck the shit out of you and it hurts.

Think it's a goose?

[Mmmmm does that taste good. Best kind of breakfast. Chew chew the shell is crunchy.] Not if you don't let em get close. But those things they gotta be provoked.

[Waaark. Kweeeeeh. Whatever it is, it's doing its own thing waiting for whoever had the bright idea to wrangle it.] Must eat a lot.

[What? What? Freddy gives Larry a look...while using his hands.]

Are you sayin'--[He licks his fingertips.]--it's my fault I got attacked?

[Brown eyes watch the tips of his fingers then drift to his eyes. Another bite then a sip of his Corona before answering.]

Naw. It's enough to get close. Still isn't saying you asked for it.

[Another sip and the glass clinks as he sets it up right. This topic is far more amusing than some other big ol' bird of a subject in the room.]

You backpedal pretty fast there, tough guy.

[He blatantly calls Larry out on that one, just because he can. the same way the kid can just sort of ignore that other big old bird even though he dos want to talk about it. Freddy just doesn't know how.]

So a goose got you.

[He wipes his chin with a napkin and licks some stray sauce from his thumb.]

Were you a kid?

[Anything but right now. To be honest, Larry's not 100% sure if he would want to leave after all. Staying here means no risk for him or Freddy. It's safe. He doesn't have to feel too badly about having him stick his neck out for this.]

I was twelve, it was one of those county fair things you know? [Chomp chomp chomp.]

I'm pretty sure you got those where you're from. [Freddy jokes, it's not like California and Wisconsin are different planets...or ARE they?]

Never been to one in my life.

[Except for the fact that he's got the biggest shit eating smile on his face. A kid for a kid, Freddy. He crunches into another taco but nods as a signal for him to proceed.]

Uh huh.

Really? Never snuck out to one? I mean you gotta hear about'em, even the LA County Fair.

[Freddy's brow furrows, then he leans in with narrowed green eyes.] Or are you fuckin' with me?

I'm fuckin' with you.

[Aw man, two tacos down already. Larry picks up his fork.]

Is there more to your story?

Ha ha ha. Real funny. [Freddy makes a face but it's all in good fun. Chomp chomp. He's almost finished with his second taco.] Naw, I mean they kinda just came after my like a fucking army but I'm way faster.

[Could be the big bird in the room that's putting a crimp in his storytelling skills. He takes a sip of his beer.]

Not fast enough if you know what it feels like to get bit by something that doesn't have any teeth.

[Rice first for Larry then he'll savor the beans.]

Fairs are in the late summer early fall because we actually get seasons there.

[Could be. Though he seems like he's having a good time, so there's no reason to worry...yet.]

The buzzard got a lucky break. [Freddy exhibits some backpedaling himself followed by a shrug and some rice shoveling.] Oh yeah? Like that icy white shit you gotta push off the driveway?

[He smiles, warming up to this already. Time for a casual cigarette too.]

That or he thought you tasted pretty good. [Chew, chew before more of the booze.] Worth a bite anyway.

[Woah now. Going to get on him about the weather? Larry shakes his head.]

That kind of shit you think is hard for a few months.

[Yeah, he said it. He'll wait for a cigarette.]

Do I? [Taste good, he means, but the question and the look that goes with it is brief.]

Never heard of it but okay. Keep goin'.

[Freddy waves his cigarette at Larry, urging him to tell him a story.]

Yeah. Of course you do. [There's a look that goes with that. It doesn't last too long. More on his plate to go through.]

Sometime you'll have to see for yourself, I mean, it's hard to describe.

[Inhale and exhale of second hand smoke it's about the next best thing.]

I earned a few dollars a week doing chores so when the fair as around, I did my best to pinch every fucking penny. So finally fair time, except the price of entry well...I dunno it was more than what I expected I got in and didn't have much else. Not at first.

I wanna see it.

[He confirms for Larry without saying the other implied words and questions, like when or how. Why ought to be a given; he's already told Lawrence Dimick that fucking felon makes him fucking happy. Going to a fair with the old man in his hometown? Fucking sweet.]

What came second? [Puff puff.]

You will. Then you'll know exactly what I mean.

[And that's as far as he wants to go on the matter. The moment is too good to wreck so soon. Can't it be like this a little longer? Besides, the kid wants to hear the rest of the story. The old man's got to deliver.]

I went walking around the fairgrounds and I got to noticing that people drop their pennies, nickels...small change that don't make a difference but I thought well, if five people lost a nickel that's already a quarter. So before I even enjoyed anything I went scrounging for more play money.

[He pauses to finish off the beans.]

My biggest cash out was by the concession stands.

[That phrasing doesn't go over the kid's head at all but Freddy doesn't really have any idea how to address it without wrecking the moment, this story. Maybe they can save it for later. He pushes his now empty plate aside to smoke and drink up the Corona.]

You were pickin' money off the floor? [He says with great amusement.] Were you looking up skirts too?

[Cause every stupid little boy knows that trick real well or something. Not that Freddy Newendyke ever did it. Really, he didn't.]

[Napkin to clean off his face of anything then he gets out a smoke.]

Sure was. I didn't know what kind of a mess it made my clothes. Even dusting it off still had some shit on my knees.

[Not literal shit, he hopes the kid would know. Larry flicks his lighter a few times. Looks like it might need a refill.]

I was trying to be a good boy. I can't help if accidents happen.

[Meaning yes.]

Man, you are dirty.

[Freddy says this like he doesn't know but the shit eating smug look on his face says he does. Very very well.]

So what'd you spend it on?

Me?

[He even turns his head to check if there is someone else Freddy would be talking to. No? Shrug. Though he knows that smile well. No disputing that he isn't dirty in his way.]

I bought tickets to go on the rides. The bumper cars and the ferris wheel were my favorites. I also got to play a few games.

The ferris wheel was the closest I could get to a skyscraper for a little while.

[He nods, still amused, still fucking charmed.] You win anything neat?

There was a roller coaster too, I had to make a choice between the ferris wheel or the coaster.

[He exhales to one side as a courtesy.]

I got a Snoopy dog.

[With his cigarette and open hand he shows how big this plush animal was....looks like about a foot and a half.]

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