Page 132

By Jack Joseph Smith

"Sometimes you talk like a fool Animal, As if quiet little secret things about where something is, or not, is meant anything about you and I, this table, these glasses, our survival? I know you don't think you have ever to worry about failure, but you will! Everyone does; my ply is everyone must! That doesn't make any difference: I know because we are not old men" Animal made his face look old; "You are an asshole!" "It was the funniest face Colonel had ever seen." He knew he didn't have to ask for money. It would be there. The lights moved and Colonel shook his head; He looked at his friend as only a figure; across the table a women walked in! The colonel knew her! A quiet note woven came to his face. Animal turned to see the women's dog follow her! The old men were remembering freight trains, with this image as much of a surely haired dog watering on their frame which was their stools! Animal moved like an event, he went to bank with the dog. The dog turned on its hinges, and squared, with its ears; yet turned for watching! The mutt was at the end of the bar. Animal was moving along. Oh my gosh a quiet came! The exit was Animal's; he made his entrance

Original Scan

Page 132

AI Interpretation

GPT

This page stages a barroom exchange in which Colonel tries to puncture Animal's stance, but the scene keeps turning back into performance, entrances, and shifting social attention.

The page works because insult, philosophy, and theatrical movement all happen in one breath. Colonel wants solidity and consequence, while Animal keeps becoming event and image, even when the conversation turns harsh.