V. Together
Trixie notes. I looked over by the window and he was sitting there just watching the wings outside. And he's beautiful. He is not a day over thirty for sure. And his skin glows. His hair is long and deeply blonde. He turned and looked at me and I was lost. My legs folded and I went down. It was a terrible experience. I wanted him to leave and then Sticks came in and introduced himself. Where did he get manners? I need to buy a coffin and put him in it at night so he doesn't wander off and pick up bad habits.
I come in the door. Me, Slingshot. The one and only six toed cat from Boston. Trixie on the floor. How did she get down there? Looking at someone over there. It's my professor and he's just the same as he was back then. He arrived here and he's smiling at Trixie. I feel so strange. My hands are different. I can see my feet.
He brought me with him into his space. Mirror, mirror where are you? Hair? And youth again. He's the fountain then of youth and wellness. I almost joined Trixie on the floor! But not wanting him to go. Sticks is just talking to him like he's the meat manager downtown. Sticks! Take a look at your wife! Oh she's okay she just needed a rest. Ghost floats through the door. Sticks looks at the ghost and goes Anne! I'm confused, what, Anne who? Sexton dummy he says. Ghost looks at him like he's out of his mind. I beg your pardon young man sex is not my reason for being. Yes, my prof replies. You are right and I can help you there. Oh please do she says. I think you are a handsome man and so polite.
She's Anne Sexton Sticks says and No I'm not ghost replies I'm your brother's neighbor before I died. After he moved in. His wife too. Where's she this lovely afternoon. She's out with her friends. She didn't need this craziness. But I'm very glad you are not Anne. She would tear this place up including you Trixie. Let me shake your hand professor. I'm so interested in this but I'm young again and that's not good. Nonie will feel left out and I can't leave her alone and old. Well, he said, maybe both of you can be young again would you like that? I don't know that would mean staying in this crazy place for another fifity years or so. It's a long haul for us. We've been through it. Nonie has really been through it. She flew off her motocycle one time and it was a terrible climb out of that. Of course, he says, and he's smiling like the day is long. So tall and refined. Nice threads. A gentleman for sure. I could really be happy walking through the woods looking like that. Sticks, what are you doing? Well, if you don't want it could maybe I have it? Sticks and bricks and potato chips have made me worry about my viability as a marriage partner. Trixie makes some kind of noise. My professor looks at him and says you can have anything you want. Could I look like you Sticks says? He's quick on his feet that one. Certainly you can have this. And he gives it to him right there! Clothes and everything! Sticks is delighted. Ghost is open mouthed like that picture of the thing on the bridge or Meryl Streep when they took her kids away. Trixie is just looking up at him like she sees him for the first time. And I'm happy for both of them I hope they work it out. Although I think it's probably going in another direction. Sticks is looking at his bag hanging on the wall. Did you get his wallet Sticks? Details brother. My dear professor laughs. Yes he did and there's a big check in there. I want to give him a big hug but he is looking out the window now. I must go he says but I will see you later my young friend. I have a place for you in time or out of it if it seems you are ready for that. But you must speak to people now. No attempt to go through life alone. Bring you wife as well. Such a great party, I thought. I didn't know they could be like this. Such an adventure. Can you help me find peace ghost wants to know. I would like to go home too. The professor now dressed in a gown of sparkling stars goes to her and gives her a hug. It's not easy to hug a ghost but he does and then she becomes a young lady who closes her eyes and dies. He carries her to the sofa and turns to Trixie. And what can I do for you? Ms Trixie? I need a new car she says. Well I'm just ready to move on. My youth is wearing off since I don't want it and I miss Nonie. Next thing I know I'm back home and she is watching tv. How did the party go? She wants to know. Oh it was crazy as usual I said. I'll tell you about it later. It suddenly occurs to me that Nonie didn't have a chance to decide if she wanted to be a young beautiful woman again. I made the decision for both of us because I know she would have wanted us to stay together. And she knows the next part is going to be a great time compared to this. So I told her all about it the next day and she was cool. But one of us could die tomorrow. How would she feel then? How would she feel if I died tomorrow. And she lives for twenty years more? She would cuss me out don't you think. If I went to someplace tomorrow, don't want to assume anything, I need for the prof to come get her and bring her back to wherever. Murder her in effect. Even if she wants to go it's still a crime to kill somebody right? Good questions for the prof but he's gone! So I don't know what to think. Did I screw up? Tell me about it. I want to know. I could ask Sticks but he's gone too. I could ask Trixie but for some reason I don't want to go there. So tell me please. What should I have done? Do I need to learn to think more clearly? Sounds like a possibility. How about this: Its more important for an individual to just do what they want to do. Everybody is responsible for the results of their decisions. She didn't get to make this one but it is what she would want. Bet my life on it. And the future has to take care of itself. Anything can happen and that will always be the case. Is that good enough for Philosophy intro? Let me know. I should have taken another class.
...and then I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put my arms around him yes and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes."
James Joyce
Ulysses.
I come in the door. Me, Slingshot. The one and only six toed cat from Boston. Trixie on the floor. How did she get down there? Looking at someone over there. It's my professor and he's just the same as he was back then. He arrived here and he's smiling at Trixie. I feel so strange. My hands are different. I can see my feet.
He brought me with him into his space. Mirror, mirror where are you? Hair? And youth again. He's the fountain then of youth and wellness. I almost joined Trixie on the floor! But not wanting him to go. Sticks is just talking to him like he's the meat manager downtown. Sticks! Take a look at your wife! Oh she's okay she just needed a rest. Ghost floats through the door. Sticks looks at the ghost and goes Anne! I'm confused, what, Anne who? Sexton dummy he says. Ghost looks at him like he's out of his mind. I beg your pardon young man sex is not my reason for being. Yes, my prof replies. You are right and I can help you there. Oh please do she says. I think you are a handsome man and so polite.
She's Anne Sexton Sticks says and No I'm not ghost replies I'm your brother's neighbor before I died. After he moved in. His wife too. Where's she this lovely afternoon. She's out with her friends. She didn't need this craziness. But I'm very glad you are not Anne. She would tear this place up including you Trixie. Let me shake your hand professor. I'm so interested in this but I'm young again and that's not good. Nonie will feel left out and I can't leave her alone and old. Well, he said, maybe both of you can be young again would you like that? I don't know that would mean staying in this crazy place for another fifity years or so. It's a long haul for us. We've been through it. Nonie has really been through it. She flew off her motocycle one time and it was a terrible climb out of that. Of course, he says, and he's smiling like the day is long. So tall and refined. Nice threads. A gentleman for sure. I could really be happy walking through the woods looking like that. Sticks, what are you doing? Well, if you don't want it could maybe I have it? Sticks and bricks and potato chips have made me worry about my viability as a marriage partner. Trixie makes some kind of noise. My professor looks at him and says you can have anything you want. Could I look like you Sticks says? He's quick on his feet that one. Certainly you can have this. And he gives it to him right there! Clothes and everything! Sticks is delighted. Ghost is open mouthed like that picture of the thing on the bridge or Meryl Streep when they took her kids away. Trixie is just looking up at him like she sees him for the first time. And I'm happy for both of them I hope they work it out. Although I think it's probably going in another direction. Sticks is looking at his bag hanging on the wall. Did you get his wallet Sticks? Details brother. My dear professor laughs. Yes he did and there's a big check in there. I want to give him a big hug but he is looking out the window now. I must go he says but I will see you later my young friend. I have a place for you in time or out of it if it seems you are ready for that. But you must speak to people now. No attempt to go through life alone. Bring you wife as well. Such a great party, I thought. I didn't know they could be like this. Such an adventure. Can you help me find peace ghost wants to know. I would like to go home too. The professor now dressed in a gown of sparkling stars goes to her and gives her a hug. It's not easy to hug a ghost but he does and then she becomes a young lady who closes her eyes and dies. He carries her to the sofa and turns to Trixie. And what can I do for you? Ms Trixie? I need a new car she says. Well I'm just ready to move on. My youth is wearing off since I don't want it and I miss Nonie. Next thing I know I'm back home and she is watching tv. How did the party go? She wants to know. Oh it was crazy as usual I said. I'll tell you about it later. It suddenly occurs to me that Nonie didn't have a chance to decide if she wanted to be a young beautiful woman again. I made the decision for both of us because I know she would have wanted us to stay together. And she knows the next part is going to be a great time compared to this. So I told her all about it the next day and she was cool. But one of us could die tomorrow. How would she feel then? How would she feel if I died tomorrow. And she lives for twenty years more? She would cuss me out don't you think. If I went to someplace tomorrow, don't want to assume anything, I need for the prof to come get her and bring her back to wherever. Murder her in effect. Even if she wants to go it's still a crime to kill somebody right? Good questions for the prof but he's gone! So I don't know what to think. Did I screw up? Tell me about it. I want to know. I could ask Sticks but he's gone too. I could ask Trixie but for some reason I don't want to go there. So tell me please. What should I have done? Do I need to learn to think more clearly? Sounds like a possibility. How about this: Its more important for an individual to just do what they want to do. Everybody is responsible for the results of their decisions. She didn't get to make this one but it is what she would want. Bet my life on it. And the future has to take care of itself. Anything can happen and that will always be the case. Is that good enough for Philosophy intro? Let me know. I should have taken another class.
...and then I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes and then he asked me would I yes to say yes my mountain flower and first I put my arms around him yes and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes and his heart was going like mad and yes I said yes I will Yes."
James Joyce
Ulysses.
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