Американские боги

           Themaninthecharcoalsuitsettleshimselfinthebarseveralfloorsbelowthegame,andisignoredbyawaitress.AMuzakversionof"WhyCan’tHeBeYou"isplaying,almostsubliminally.FiveElvisPresleyimpersonators,eachmanwearingadifferentcoloredjumpsuit,watchalate-nightrerunofafootballgameonthebarTV.

           Abigmaninalightgraysuitsitsatthemaninthecharcoalsuit’stable,and,noticinghimevenifshedoesnotnoticethemaninthecharcoalsuit,thewaitress,whoistoothintobepretty,tooobviouslyanorectictoworkLuxorortheTropicana,andwhoiscountingtheminutesuntilshegetsoffwork,comesstraightoverandsmiles.Hegrinswidelyather."You’relookingatreattonight,m’dear,afinesightforthesepooroldeyes,"hesays,and,scentingalargetip,shesmilesbroadlyathim.ThemaninthelightgraysuitordersaJackDaniel’sforhimselfandaLaphroaigandwaterforthemaninthecharcoalsuitsittingbesidehim.

           "Youknow,"saysthemaninthelightgraysuit,whenhisdrinkarrives,"thefinestlineofpoetryeverutteredinthehistoryofthiswholedamncountrywassaidbyCanadaBillJonesin1853,inBatonRouge,whilehewasbeingrobbedblindinacrookedgameoffaro.GeorgeDevol,whowas,likeCanadaBill,notamanwhowasaversetofleecingtheoddsucker,drewBillasideandaskedhimifhecouldn’tseethatthegamewascrooked.AndCanadaBillsighed,andshruggedhisshoulders,andsaid,‘Iknow.Butit’stheonlygameintown.