Thursday, November 16, 2023

it done broke down - 1. a stormy night


by nick nelson

part one of 13




a hit man, a wandering minstrel, a hooker with a heart of gold, and a savage dictator were sitting around on a stormy night.

outside, the wind howled.

did you hear about bill? the wandering minstrel asked.

no, what about him? the hooker with the heart of gold replied.

he’s got no more gas in his tank.

poor fellow, the savage dictator said. he tried so hard.

nobody ever tried harder, the hit man agreed.

what exactly was up with him? the hooker asked. i never did hear the whole story.

excuse me, but do these people have names? are you going to keep on calling them the hit man, etc? and do they have stories?

and exactly where are they sitting around on this stormy night, and how do they come to be acquainted with each other?

very well, then, the hit man’s name was roger williams, and he was a registered republican.

the wandering minstel’s name was leonardo yarborough, and he really was not a very good minstrel, but he tried, and that is all you can ask of anybody, don’t you think?

did he wander around much?

yes, he wandered quite far afield. that part of what he did he did quite well.

the hooker’s name was veronica kingman, and she had a heart of gold.

we already knew that. did she have any other distinguishing characteristics? was she fat, thin, old, young, what?

she could have lost a little weight, and she was not as young as she used to be.

thank you. and the savage dictator, why is he hanging out with these humble personages?

it’s a long story.

let’s hear it. we have nothing but time..

his name was karol - karol with a k - cassius, and, savage as he was, he liked to get out and talk to the people, you know? listen to what they had to say.

surely he had some kind of bodyguard in the vicinity?

yes, he did.

and what was the bodyguard’s name? this is like pulling teeth.

the bodyguard’s name was helena ostroewski, and she was a master of all the killing arts.

i am sure she was. what else can you tell me about her?

i think she had seen and done things too terrible to be described

you think? oh,well, it is not important. get on with it.

where was i?

something about a poor fellow named bill.

oh yes, it was a sad case. a sad case indeed. i am listening.

the narrator seemed momentarily overcome with emotion, but pulled himself together and continued.

next


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