Page 157

By Jack Joseph Smith

jad imalys" Prankster: lauglied; .and ‘shoolt his head up and: dew muttering, He was if the marmer. of mem wlio: give: pram ise-te one another: in jail’. They walked ‘onj'3$' Andiout from under the pier: inte the wide-sandlet endef the éLty,' Itiages: of how Prank sterr began to believe that le-would ‘never litve: im a car: lot-agaim Begam te-prevail;' Hé was: se expansively” Toose-for-these moments, thati.Animal noticed! his fir gerssdangling like a menkeys$ Something umsual) fer: his -emekles: usually came -closesto turning lis Pinger nailacunders even: while -walkingy' “My feet off the ground Animal] Fer my lightness: te. be seen weuld mean a great accomplishment, The calm spet'im the sterm!" He turned ‘locking directly at the Anigals his eyes glaring from the sparks. directly be= ° Pa a a you, and your blewing ef money, the I-in me-will be: seen to be Ploting, Te announce as a toast," he held his hand’ out te the -new growing suyp rise eff the sea-mitming his helding of a glass upen : . the eeeusion of anew day,."I will not be the face of disaster? Net from you a lifelong promise," he then : let his hand fall, “a short term agreementooe” He : 1 . begam to rum im place-giggling and spiting. “Locking for TBD a “et ag nk rp foie fen, its gage ‘outeide-ef neutral. .F+-puts-me—on-an old’ bike 1

Original Scan

Page 157

AI Interpretation

GPT

Prankster jokes, runs, toasts, and refuses to become the face of disaster as he steps out from under the pier into new daylight.

The page carries a springy manic energy that is half liberation and half defense. His toast is funny, but it is also a way of keeping catastrophe at the edge of performance rather than letting it settle into identity.

Claude

Prankster jokes, runs, toasts, and refuses to become the face of disaster as he steps out from under the pier. The page is his exit from the nocturne.