Factory Town

by Frederick Garber

  Just because I have not answered that last letter. That two month ago letter. You dressed up like that. Black tail on a white cat.

  Last time you were that wild white dog. That stared at me and walked so slowly across the street. You had been waiting for me. Checking up on me. Checking up on me.

  That Marxista, she doesn't believe in this stuff. In this spirit stuff. I don't have to believe in this stuff. In this spirit stuff. I could tell by those eyes. I could tell by those eyes.

  And I will answer that last letter. That two month ago letter.

  When Something Starts to Crack

  You get around...You see a lot of people... Tell me what happened to Angela. She lived in that house. That kind of white house. Down that curvy road. It is the only house. What is going on with Brenda? I saw her at that house. You know who I mean. Glasses... She is from Guatemala. She and her two cousins worked at that place down by the river. You know that place that has had a lot of owners. It was a country western place for a long time. Then they had a steakhouse there. Now it is a Mexican bar. When she worked there the boss told me he prefers Guatemaltecas. Why? He said they are better workers.

  Except for that old lady over there. She use to sing Mariachi down in Jalisco in Mexico. I saw her sing once.

  It was her 50th or 60th birthday party. I don't know which it was. The first song or two were good. Then her voice started to crack. So she stopped. Smart lady. When something starts to crack you got to stop, you know?

  There are some other people I want to ask you about. Look, when you see them, just tell them you saw me and I was getting by. Tell them I am OK and was just curious about them.

  Not Much Farther

  Not much farther. Don't worry about it. Just up the trail. Thru those oak trees. See that mound over there? On the other side is a buried truck. Old Ford from the twenties. There is an old safe without a door. Jack-in-the-pulpits right by it. Someone’s crime spree ended right there.

  Not much farther. Don't worry about it. I gotta rest a minute. Take a drink of water. It is windy up here on this ridge. Just up this trail. This trail is deep. Old trail. Look out for the muddy part. Rain last night. Sign of deer.

  Sign of coyote too.

  See those cottonwoods? The trail branches off. Gonna take the right fork. The left fork leads to Mt. Lucia.

  Not a mountain. Just a big hill.

  Gotta rest again. It is hot up here.

  Not much farther. Don't worry about it. I told you why we were coming here. Maybe five minutes more.

  These hills are old. Full of clay. Steep. The valleys are full of oak and walnut. The tops have cottonwood.

  Prairie grass and yucca.

  Almost there. I know your legs hurt. This place looks different. It has been many years. Don't worry about it.

  I know where it is.

  Stop.

  It is right here. Gotta rest first. What a view. Sun will be setting soon. Ok I am ready now.

  It is right down there. On the south side of the ridge. Watch your step. Very steep. This spot use to be clear.

  Full of saplings now. Found the badger skull right over there. By the shale outcropping.

  Do you feel it? It is coming back to me now. This place is sacred.

  It is getting dark. Can we talk about this later? I am so tired. My bones ache. Can’t think. Need to rest.

  Just gonna crawl over there. On that pile of oak leaves. We can talk about it later. Let me close my eyes. Stop talking. Can't understand you anyway.

  Sinking now. Wind is way up there. Sun is gone. Moon too.

  Not much farther.

  FIN