"Bukowski, Charles - Short Stories Collection" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bukowski Charles)

remembered I had the key. I walked back and put the key with the note. Then
I looked at the ten in the purse again. I left it there. I made the walk
again. When I got to the door, I knew that when I closed it there would be
no going back. I closed it. It was final. Down those steps. I was alone
again and nobody gave a damn. I walked south, then took a right. I walked
along, I walked along and got out of the French Quarter. I crossed Canal
Street. I walked along for some blocks and then I turned this way and then I
crossed another street and turned that way. I didn't know where I was going.
I passed a place to my left and a man was standing in the doorway and he
said,
"Hey, man, you want a job?"
And I looked into the doorway and here were these rows of men lined up
at wooden tables and they had hammers and they were hitting at things in
shells, they looked like clam shells and they broke the shells and did
something with the meat, and it was dark in there; it seemed as if the men
were beating at themselves with hammers and tossing away what was left of
them, and I told the man,
"No, I don't want a job."
I was facing the sun as I walked.
I had 74 cents.
The sun was all right.


===

**My Big-Assed Mother**

they were tow good girls, Tito and Baby. they both looked near 60 but
they were close to 40. all that wine and worry. I was 29 and looked closer
to 50. all that wine and worry. I had gotten the apartment first and then
they had moved in. it worried the apartment house manager who kept sending
the cops up when we made the least bit of noise. it was jumpy. I was afraid
to piss in the center of the bowl.
the best time was the MIRROR, watching myself, bloated belly, with Baby
and Tito, drunk and sick for nights and days, all of us, the cheap radio
playing, tubes all worn-out sitting there on that worn-down rug, ah my, the
MIRROR, and I'd be watching, and I'd say:

"Tito, it's in your ass. feel it?"
"oh yes, oh my yes - SHOVE! hey! where ya GOING?"
"now, Baby, you got it in front here, umm? feel it? big purple head,
like a snake singing arias! feel me love?"
"oooh, dahling, I think I'm gonna c-..HEY! where ya GOING?"
"Tito, I am back in your rumble seat. I am parting you in two. you
don't have a chance!"
"oooh god ooooh, HEY where ya GOING? get back in there!"
"I dunno."
"I dunno who I want to catch it. what can I do? I want you both, I
can't HAVE you both! And while trying to make up my mind I am in a terror of
demise and agony trying to hold it! doesn't anybody understand my