EZ's Short Fiction - Updated 1/03

I looked out over the cliff as the last rays of the sun set on the horizon. The smell of pine trees and gun smoke pervaded my nostrils as I turned and headed back towards the woods, the calls of birds and the croaks of frogs welcoming me as I walked through the thicket. I took a seat on a stump that lay next to me on the ground. It was uncomfortable. If it had been any other day, any other time, I might have burned the damn thing for pissing me off. But right now, as much of a literal pain in the ass as it was, it was the best thing I’d felt all day.

A chill went up my spine as a brisk wind blew through the woods. I put up the collar on my coat to cover my neck, but it didn’t help much. I started searching through my coat pockets and took out a cigarette.

“Well, if you’re gonna be out here making me freeze my ass off like an icicle, I hope you don’t mind me lightin’ up a stick.”

As I brought it to my mouth and lit it, I looked over to the corpse propped against the tree next to me.

“Yea, I figured you wouldn’t.”

The dead don’t always make for the best conversation. I try to ignore that about them.

I let out a long drag as I pulled my head back. You can clearly see the stars from out here. It’s not like the city, where the smog and the lights clog up the sky and let you see jack. They’re so bright out here. They twinkle and shine and remind me of her eyes.

But they’re just stars. At the other end of that light is another pile of burning gas surrounded by crappy planets. They might have people on them. If they’re lucky, they’re not keeping the dead company like I am.

I throw the butt to the ground and stomp out the ashes.

“Alright, pal, up and at †˜em. It’s time to go.”

As I pick up my deceased companion, I take one last look at the stars. They shine in my eyes and I just stare. Their beauty was lost to me years ago. Whatever’s at the other end is as cruel as it is here, I reckon.

I pat the corpse on the back.

“Don’t be shy, pal. We’re just going somewhere you’ll finally be able to rest.”

I didn’t know what else to say. Although I didn’t mind his silent presence. Misery loves company, I suppose.

“Can ya please not light one a’ those when ya †˜round me?”

My eyes stayed fixed on the rhinestone studded dress in front of me. The woman moved her hips to and fro, causing the little stones to sparkle as the stage light washed over her. Her uncovered shoulders bobbed up and down as her hands weaved their way through the air and gently took hold of the stand in front of her. She closed her eyes, the microphone planting a cold kiss at her lips as she started filling the lounge with her raw emotion.

My entire being was entranced until I realized I was sucking on air instead of the Maralboro menthol that had been gracing my lips. I looked over to my right in time to see it being crushed under a boot.

“C’mon, Phil. Was it really necessary to do that?”

“Yea, well ya ought’a know better. My wife was always on my freakin’ case every time I wen’ out wit’ ya and I came back reekin’ a’ ya goddamn cigarettes.”

I fumbled with another stick as I grabbed my lighter.

“It’s been a while, though. And those lights cost me a pretty penny, you know.”

Before I can even take the first drag, he grabs the cigarette and launches it at the back of the pianist on stage.

“An’ it don’ matter how long it’s been, if she nags me again, it might cost me my sanity, ya lousy bastard.”

He gives the pianist a look of death before turning his gaze on me.

“Jeez, I’m sorry.”

The face he gave me was strange. Couldn’t tell if it was because he figured something was weird, or if it was because he had drank a little more than his usual load. Or a mixture of both.

“What?”

He looked away.

“Nothin’, jus’ not used to ya †˜pologizin’ so easily is all.”

I chuckled.

“Yea, maybe I feel a little courteous tonight.”

“Well then,” he said as he flagged down another waiter, “Ya should extend ya courtesy a little more and buy me this next round a’ drinks, eh?”

A fake grin plastered itself on my face as I nodded to the waiter and let him take his order. My eyes went back to the girl in rhinestones on the stage.



Coming out of the lounge was a bit of a challenge. Seeing as how all the alcohol my companion consumed decided to settle itself in the lower half of his body, it was a bit of stretch for me to hope we could leave the same way we came in.

The stench of apple martinis and tequila assaulted my nose every time he took a breath as I shouldered his weight and slowly trudged my way out of the lounge through the back entrance. There were sounds coming out of his mouth, but whether or not they were meant for me or for him was something I couldn’t really discern. The only thing I knew for certain was that the hand that started slithering its way drunkenly down my right side was making me rather uncomfortable, to say the least. I looked down in time to see him reaching into my coat pocket, grabbing the pack of menthols I had left and waving it in front my face.

“Don’ think,” he hiccoughed, “That jus’ †˜cause uhm drunk, you can pull d’ese out and start smokin’.”

I gently took hold of the pack and slowly placed them back into the refuge of my coat.

“Don’t worry, Phil. I understood the first time.”

“Good,” he mumbled as he stabbed my shoulder with his finger, ”’Cause if ya didn’t, I’mma haft†˜a knock ya so hard, ya’d run cryin’ back to ya wife.”

“My wife’s dead, Phil.”

“Oh. Right.”

He paused.

“Didn’ mean t’a offend ya.”

“That’s alright, Phil.”

We kept walking further out. The sounds of the woods started filling my ears and the smell of pine trees pervaded my nostrils. In the distance I could see the break in the trees where the cliff was. The parking lot was in the other direction, across the street from the main entrance of the lounge. I figured Phil knew this already. Saved me the need to explain it.

“Ya know something?”

“What, Phil?”

“The stars look mighty beautiful out here.”

I kept on walking, tilting my head back as much as the arm around my neck would let me. They were shining, just like the rhinestones were. Just like tears on smoky glass.

“The boss told me there were people at the house on Prairie doin’ business there that he didn’ like.”

I stopped walking.

“Yea?”

“Yea.”

I let the arm that had been slung around my shoulder slide gracefully off my back and I settled him down next to a tree. The wind was cold tonight. I figured fate knew what was in store.

“If I’d a’ known you were comin’ to see me after two years missin’, I would’a asked my wife for my best suit.”

The cold steel clearly made him shiver as it touched his forehead.

“I don’t hate you, Phil.”

“I know.”

I looked up one last time. I watched as the rhinestones disappeared in the smoke.

Goodbye, brother.