33

…I heard of a teddy bear what attacked two rubber ducks…reckon they gets kind of crochety in their old age…

Monroe D. Underwood

Brandy locked the door behind us.

I said dry run goddammit.

Brandy said well your reunion really won’t get rolling until tomorrow.

She said didn’t you see any of your old gang?

I said just Harry Jennings.

Brandy said which one was he?

I said the one that went to sleep in the booth.

Brandy said with the stuffed panda?

I said yeah.

I said you know I can’t figure that out.

I said when he was in the army Harry didn’t have a panda.

I said he had a teddy bear.

Brandy said well at least we’ve learned two things about Harry Jennings.

She said he’s lonely and he’s fickle.

She said he should get married.

I said he did.

I said his wife divorced him.

Brandy said because of the panda?

I said no I don’t think so.

I said I believe he still had the teddy bear.

Brandy sat on the side of the bed nearest the door and I took the other.

We talked back-to-back.

I said whew.

Brandy said tired?

I said damn right.

I said I drove clear from Belmont and Kimball.

Brandy said how far is that?

I said eight miles.

I said in the rain.

Brandy said gosh that’s not far.

I said in the rain?

Brandy said even in the rain.

I said in Chicago?

Brandy said Purdue eight miles is eight miles.

I said not in Chicago.

I said not in the rain.

I said people have starved to death driving eight miles in Chicago in the rain.

I said others have gone insane.

I said there have been numerous suicides.

Brandy said Purdue knock it off.

She said I’m tired too.

I heard Brandy’s shoes tumble on the carpeting.

I heard a zipper zip.

There were rustling sounds.

I heard a clasp go snick.

Brandy said Purdue do you remember what I told you about those brassiere welts?

I said uh-huh.

Brandy said well see for yourself.

She said I look like I’ve been lashed by a cat-o’-nine-tails.

I said I really don’t have to see.

I said I believe you.

I said I’m sorry about your welts.

Brandy didn’t say anything.

The lamp on the nightstand clicked out.