“Red, red, wine.” The gravel voice of the singer bounced around the empty bar passed Ruben, the bartender, and stinging the ears of Tony, the only person at the bar. Tony tapped the shot glass in rhythm with the music. Ruben dried a tumbler. He watched his customer waver in his chair. Tony stared into the mirror behind Ruben. “Now she’s gone and I can’t forget her.” Ruben set down the tumbler and whipped the…
From the TV behind his head he heard, “Look, let me explain something to you. I’m not Mr. Lebowski. You’re Mr. Lebowski. I’m the Dude. So that’s what you call me. That, or His Dudeness … Duder … or El Duderino, if, you know, you’re not into the whole brevity thing.” Brevity. If only. The guy with the gun forced the barrel next to his nose and punched it as if to emphasize, “You get…
The gossip fails to interest him, Real housewives provide no whim, The endless chatter from the box, Never topping spring equinox. Transplanting flowers from the seed, Small, pale, helpless leaves proceed No April Showers, so May balks Never topping spring equinox. Finally, water pours over plant, The pail neck leaks but a scant, Of moisture fallen from shamrocks, Never topping spring equinox. Summer now, the garden delights, Hummingbirds dab on nectar flights, Still, he misses…
Bill DuPree kept an eye open on Fremont Street for fresh beauty to keep the Glitter Gulch filled with long legs and shapely thighs. If they had a nice set of breasts, well, that was cream on the stick. As the manager, he had seen them arrive and leave. A girl would need a firm foundation to attract the John’s, Dick’s, and George Washington’s stuck in the G-strings of their eye candy. Too bad each piece of…
Riding behind in a long red wagon, He sits, he smiles, plays with the air, he watches Her ponytail bobbing in rhythm as she pulls The red wagon up the road in the pines They stop at a library, he toddles up Children’s books about bunnies and ducks He giggles and claps at the animal Pictures while struggling to understand her; He sees the love in her warm smiling face She’s older now,…
Cindy stood below the unlit neon of Fremont Street and thought about where to go next. Her list, while punctuated with a final stop, still required a place to start. “I’m looking for an evil man,” Cindy said aloud to no one in particular. She stared up at Sally, kicking up a leg in glowing orange and purple. The tall cowgirl flashed a smile and rocked her outstretched leg. A glint of light sparked on…
I’ve got a tiger by the tail Its plain to see came a Buck Owens wail From the jukebox hidden near the bar In a West Texas dance hall far Away on a farm-to-market road Near a cotton bale load Hammer man tuned the piano, sunlight gave way to moon Barmaid dried the glasses, as twilight settled around the Texas Spoon A Post cowboy and a Hale Center mill man Rushed inside to find a…
The lieutenant’s horse swung in close to the Scout. He pulled up and stopped. Dust blew behind him. The Scout chewed on a blade of grass. “Report Scout. What are we chasing?” Scout twisted the grass in his mouth moving it from one side to the other. He paused and pointed. “See that butte?” The lieutenant covered his eyes from the sun. “Yes. Is that the hideout?” “No.” A silence hung between the men. Scout…
A ray of sunshine poked up over Sunrise Mountain, snaking its way through the canopy of Fremont Street, falling downward to pause a moment in a puddle of beer, then reflecting upwards to land on the shoulder of Vegas Vic. “Quite a party last night Sally,” the large man beamed to his partner across the street. He attempted to adjust his cigarette. “Yes, Vic. Quite a party.” Sassy Sally tried to straighten out her leg.…
A bead of sweat fell off his forehead onto the inside of the glass face shield as he reached for the red button. He pressed it. A whoosh of air bounced him toward the open airlock and blew him out in the vacuum of space. Then silence as he drifted out and away from the space ship. Strips of glass and debris flew away from the station as pieces of the asteroid broke it apart.…