Американские боги

           Thewindhowledaboutthebus,andthewipersslooshedheavilybackandforthacrossthewindshield,smearingthecityintoaredandyellowneonwetness.Itwasearlyafternoon,butitlookedlikenightthroughtheglass.

           "Shit,"saidthemanintheseatbehindShadow,rubbingthecondensationfromthewindowwithhishand,staringatawetfigurehurryingdownthesidewalk."There’sp**syoutthere."

           Shadowswallowed.Itoccurredtohimthathehadnotcriedyet-hadinfactfeltnothingatall.Notears.Nosorrow.Nothing.

           HefoundhimselfthinkingaboutaguynamedJohnnieLarchhe’dsharedacellwithwhenhe’dfirstbeenputinside,whotoldShadowhowhe’doncegotoutafterfiveyearsbehindbarswithonehundreddollarsandatickettoSeattle,wherehissisterlived.

           JohnnieLarchhadgottotheairport,andhehandedhistickettothewomanonthecounter,andsheaskedtoseehisdriver’slicense.

           Heshowedittoher.Ithadexpiredacoupleofyearsearlier.ShetoldhimitwasnotvalidasID.Hetoldheritmightnotbevalidasadriver’slicense,butitsureashellwasfineidentification,anddamnit,whoelsedidshethinkhewas,ifhewasn’thim?

           Shesaidshe’dthankhimtokeephisvoicedown.

           Hetoldhertogivehimaf**kingboardingpass,orshewasgoingtoregretit,andthathewasn’tgoingtobedisrespected.Youdon’tletpeopledisrespectyouinprison.