American River Review 2022 - copy - Flipbook - Page 70
ok, forget tribute
one or two
you said tribute
mmm-hmmm
yes, tribute
but more like a celebration
is this going in the poem?
it’s not my damn birthday
i know, Uncle
but you can still be celebrated
for what?
i didn’t do anything
well, that time you fixed my flat tire
i just came by the house
asked you to help me and
you stopped what you were doing
and did the whole thing
i wasn’t probably doing nothing
now if the game had been on..
he laughs
well, it was your free time
and you fixed the flat
and you didn’t charge me anything
damn, you’re so-i don’t understand you sometimes
you’re my sister’s kid, goddamnit
you were
she was, is
I’d do anything for you kids
her kids
any of you kids
I know, Uncle
Thanks.
That’s why I want to write you an ode
I think you just did, Barrel
Ha!
Then he throws his head back
and those dimples
I got dimples?
70
yes
ok, but don’t put me in some fucken
bullshit
what do you mean?
don’t put me in some goddamn suit
or a coat and tie
ok, just your white t-shirt?
yeah
well, and some pants
geez!
they paint a picture of you
and what you liked
oh
why don’t you skip this whole poem
thing
and show a picture?
mmmmmm
i think the words add a little something else
ok, you’re the professor
but i gotta go
all this talking has made me thirsty
he rubs his hands together
i need to find me a cold Bud
you got one?
OK, how about those Levi’s you wore
no, sorry
make sure to say that they weren’t
jeans
nothing against you and your
(holds out his hand and tilts it)
friends
but i don’t like that shit
i never liked those kind of pants
I didn’t think so
ok, let the record show that
Uncle didn’t wear jeans
He wore Levi’s western slacks
in macho, manly colors
doesn’t have to be macho
but manly works
such as brown
he nods approval
brown, navy, and…
grey
i had some grey ones too
come on, Uncle,
you may not have noticed
but I’m sure
over the years
one of your lady friends
must have told you
and grey ones
he also wore Levi cords
welllll, maybe one
and cords in those same colors
ah-huh
but why do you want to write about
my clothes?
oh yeah,
i forgot about those
cords are good
I have some Mexican beer
at my house
and a Newcastle i think
maybe a-aw, ferget it
keep your shit
I’ll stop at the store
on my way home
pick up a six pack
I think Sammy’s coming over
I’ll put the game on
Giants or 49ers?
it don’t matter
ok, Uncle
Thanks again
yeah, yeah
take it easy
you too
don’t think so hard
and be careful
there are some assholes
who...well, you know
yeah, i know
i’m careful
you’d call me, right?