Page 26
By Jack Joseph Smith
He could throw it. "So this is the guy who can hit at one hundred yards."
Gibbons was just about to the field now. The Pennsylvania valley cliff was
steeped short, but had some levels to it. "How ya doing Dick; what made you
quit?"
Gibbons laughed a little; then wheesed several times before he put his
head back. Half way away down the field headed for the house he was feeling
bad so he put back on his coat. Huffernegile felt like red wind when the
ball went uncocked back behind his ear. He knew no difference between the
whip and the dance. His body heaved, but then it didn't, and then something
happened. Gibbons knew the sun had changed, so he ran with it. "He's alright,"
Gibbons thought. "A star at twenty, and still with the priests." He caught the
pass, but he didn't throw it back because the team was fourteen and he didn't
want to intercept.
want to intercept.
The walk of gibbons actually thought of his good fortune. Living right
down off the fields of play was one gift.
He sat down for a dinner of pork and ate all he could. The table room was
small. The curtains were red. Most everything was oak and pine, but mother
felt it was not large enough, and possibly plastic could give more light
because of the single stated windows. One sweep and Gibbons was up the stairs.
"Your a good looking fucker," he said to the glass. He put his dinner belly
out at least as tight as a monks ass. At the bottom of the stairs to the door,
Mr. Gibbons said wait just in his head. Gibbons turned. "No troubble som."
Gibbons had by now developed a laugh, but he did not now, or would he ever
use it when concern was with his father. "Sure."
Gone was Gibbons back into the cedar. The crisp fall night had fallen.
He knew the utter of the black haired conversation that followed over the
table for a mile, until he just felt sorry for the tea with no whiskey in
an Irishmans place.