Page 25 - Vol. VI #7

you rotten twerps ” he he yelled An itch itch swarmed his his his scalp He pulled off his his his hat and scratched Harder Chasing the the the the itch itch Goddamn rat rat rat rat bastard kids with nothing better to do do do do than than nicky nicky nicky nicky nine dooring his his house Scratch slammed the the the the the door door The windows rattled in in in in in in in in in in in in their frames He felt more than than saw the the the the the the the gray- yellow haze haze hanging in in in in in in in in in in in every every every every room of of of his his house house leaching into the the the the the the the walls couch carpet filling every every every every little little cranny with its sticky adhesive With every every every every ring of of of the the the the the the the the doorbell every every every every time he he he he he he he he he he opened the the the the the the the the door door a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a little little of of of of that that haze haze leaked out Had the the the the the the the the rotten scabs huddled like football play- ers sketching the the the the the the the the perfect plan? Choosing a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a target that that was was the the the the the the the the the easy part It could have been been a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a case of of eeny eeny meeny miny moe and the the the the the the the the tiger (they used a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a different word back in in in in in his day) got caught by the the the the the the the wrong bloody toe but but Scratch Scratch was was almost certain he he he he he he he he he had had had been been chosen exactly the the the the the the the same
same
way they they chose chose Mr Mr Cooker Cooker all those years ago— Scratch Scratch may rarely talk and and wear googly glasses but but but Mr Mr Cooker Cooker had had had a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a lisp with limp to to match and and and at at at the the the the the the the the same
same
time every day he he he he he he he he he he he he had had had walked around the the the the the the the block exactly twice dragging his his bum bum leg leg No one knew how it it it it happened—the bum bum leg—but there were rumours: he’d he’d he’d stepped on on on on a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a landmine in in in in the the the the the the war he’d he’d he’d tripped over his his his his his his dead wife on on on on on the the the the the the kitchen floor he’d he’d he’d kicked a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a man for vomiting on on on on on his his his his his lawn his his his his his dog had tried to to to to to eat his his his his his leg leg off The latter Scratch’s favourite Not nearly as predict- able Scratch Scratch jumped on on on on on his his his his his his his bike whenever he he he he he he he he he he he felt like a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a trip to to to to to the the the the market or or or or to to to to to go to to to to to therapy group He never never never talked to to to to to anyone never never never made eye contact Mr Cooker had mowed his his his his lawn in in a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a checkerboard pattern trimmed his his his his bushes and pruned the the the the the the trees Scratch didn’t have have the the the the the the time or or or energy Scraggly Scraggly man Scraggly Scraggly yard Might as well have have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a target painted on on his his door door “How would infinite dark smell taste or feel? Like the smoke and tar dripping down his walls that he’d long ago gone nose blind to?”
The blinds chattered when when he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he leaned up against the the the the the the the the window If he he he he he he he he he he he he he he he couldn’t catch the the the the the the the the mongrels in in in in in in in in the the the the the the act he he he he he he he he he he he he he would watch and and wait And do do do do what? Swing open the the the the the the door door when when they weren’t expect- ing ing it it and and snap in in in in in in in in the the the the the the most spidery way he he he he he he he he he he he he he could could 16
(continued on on next page)