Joe Burke's Last Stand

. He began reading the Sunday classifieds, an experie

rgetic. He left depressed. He could have done the work in his sleep, but he couldn't pretend to want to be "on board." The woman who interviewed him was too decent; Joe couldn't

ver for the soap. Something split in his back. It was like being hit by an ax. He managed to get ou

nches at a time. He made it to his mattress and slid under the comforter. Ch

d filled it with water. He drank and then refilled it and placed it on the floor. He opened the cabinet under the sink and pulled out an old pie plate. He lowered himself to the floor and rested befor

nd knocking it to the floor with the broom, but who would he call? When the pie plate filled, he inched along the floor, dragging it into the bathroom, spilling some, but managing to reach up and pour mos

o limp to the bathroom, supporting himself with the sponge mop. He took aspirin and shuffled back to his ma

o stand up slowly, turn on the radio, and reassure Batman. He leaned against a wall and stared at a shaft of

ting the only life we know. It's all right, Joe thought, as his isolation broke down. "For thine is the kingdom," he said to a p

had no idea what to do, but he knew that he wasn't going to program computers for an insurance company. The back pain hell was a clear warning not to repeat his old patterns. In the past, he would drift around

ed; her face was composed, nearly immobilized, with eye shadow, liner, and rich red lipstick. She had an air of sadness that wa

's appearance that he wanted to capture; he wanted to know how he felt about her. Writing was a way of fin

enough to keep writing. A woman sat next to him at the counter. He paid no attention until she asked

ice ribs, large breasts pushed against a white blouse. "What

ng to descr

ou a w

Joe

n Carl. Have you been her

hort sandy colored hair, a blunt nose and a wide mouth.

e work at the East-West

yeste

r. "No kidding? W

rock." She was compac

s your

I'm too old for you." She looked downcast for

you w

c

think, is that you think I'm too young for you. It's a compliment, really. Men ha

ou studying

e religion. I was a pastor for a while and

ir

crites," she said sa

ved here I did a lot of stuff: drove a cab, delivered newspapers, managed a

th," she said, "I'm for

his surprise w

ty-t

"You're one too: a yo

"it has been nice to meet you,

hange, so he left a large tip and walked up Ala Moana Boulevard, relieved

afternoon, th

bad this morning; I'm sorry.

do you

t realize. I don't meet people like you very often." That was flatter

rprised.

e never been to the Top of the I. Come on, Joe . . . You can tell me stories about

e ironed a pair of pants and an aloha shirt, mumbling to himself about what a pain in the ass it

ition associated with the willingness to walk slowly in front of onrushing traffic and also-s

al colored silk tunic over a chino skirt. Her hair was brushed back; a small opa

s. "I don't drink much," she said as he ordered a Glenlivet

wonderful stu

nnay. So, Joe, tell me about

ve been married twice." Alison did not appear surpri

k, the Wo

ard time. Food stamps and all that, even welfare for a while. Things settled down when I started driving a Charley's cab and Sally cleaned hou

le and knew what she was supposed to do every week." His mi

d," Alis

was disturbed. Sally was a sweetheart, but she didn't talk much; after six

er that a nice man had come into her room during the night, had sat on her bed and talked to her. The mother explained that dream

ought that the mother

ou think?"

ing but drive a cab. I got a job managing a tennis club on the other side of the pali-a good

nt to kindergarten. Mornings, I walked

his morning,

friendly with a regular at the Rob Roy Coffee Shop, an ex-machinist who had fled Chicago to start over in Hawaii. 'You gotta meet Mike,' he told me

Mike and I were seated at a table in Crazy Horse, a topless bar that catered to Marines. He was short an

id. I asked him ho

they had hoped. He told me about robbing Aku over and over. Aku was a radio personality. Mike said he couldn't stan

-so I went in and sat on her bed. I told her not to worry; I was just doing my job, looking for things at night. I told her that her job was to get a good sleep, have good dreams, and be ready to have a grea

him about the six foot bird cage in the atrium of that Kah

her chair and clap

said. "Mike got caught. The girl

know. The truth is important." Alison had a

," he said. "Maybe I'll s

e you could find out wh

er arrived. He had gone

ampi and inhaled deeply

uvignon. By dessert, Alison had told him that she was from a small town near Madison, Wisconsin,

n't in school. My mother always had other jobs. He was strict. I couldn't go out

to the church life-and

, that is." She bent over the table and lowe

direction and Joe lowered his vo

. But, actually, I am one." He blinked several times as she continued, "I had a boyfriend for five years. He was divorced. He

leaning forward. His eyes were fixed on her swelling breast and the curve of black lace that

e mountains and the Pacific. Sharp ridges descend toward the water. The ridge faces have been developed; at night they

Alison said. "I didn't me

d. It seems like a

ab to her apartment, not far from the univer

leaned over and kissed

e, thanked for a

aid and got ou

iver remained silent. "Oh, yeah