Чужак в чужой стране

           "PoorJubal!Nobodyeverfeelssorryforhim,sohehastofeelsorryforhimself."

           "Sarcasmyet.NowonderIdon’tgetanyworkdone."

           "Notsarcasm,Boss.Onlythewearerknowswheretheshoepinches."

           "Myapologies.Allright,here’spaycopy.Begin.Title:‘OnefortheRoad,’

           "There’samnesiainahangknot,

           Andcomfortintheax,

           Butthesimplewayofpoisonwillmakeyournervesrelax.

           "There’ssurceaseinagunshot,

           Andsleepthatcomesfromracks,

           Butahandydraftofpoisonavoidstheharshesttax.

           "Youfindrestuponthehotsquat,

           Orgascangiveyoupax,

           Buttheclosestcornerchemisthaspeaceinpackagedstacks.

           "There’srefugeinthechurchlot

           Whenyoutireoffacingfacts,

           Andthesmoothestrouteispoisonprescribedbykindlyquacks.

           "Chorus-

           Withanugh!andagroan,andakickoftheheels,

           Deathcomesquiet,oritcomeswithsqueals-

           Butthepleasantestplacetofindyourend

           Isacupofcheerfromthehandofafriend."

           "Jubal,"Annesaidworriedly,"isyourstomachupset?"

           "Always."

           "Thatone’sforfile,too?"

           "Huh?That’sfortheNewYorker.Theirusualpenname."

           "They’llbounceit."

           "They’llbuyit.It’smorbid,they’llbuyit."

           Andbesides,there’ssomethingwrongwiththescansion."

           "Ofcoursethereis!Youhavetogiveaneditorsomethingtochange,orhegetsfrustrated.Afterhepeesinithimself,helikestheflavormuchbetter,sohebuysit.