First published in Queen Mob’s Tea House, January 2, 2017. Copyright 2017 by Tetman Callis.
It’s the shoes.
No, it’s
it’s not the shoes in and of themselves. In and of themselves, the shoes are fine.
They’re black shoes. They shine. They take polish, so they have a nice they shine.
Maybe if they weren’t
if they didn’t take such a shine, it wouldn’t be
because it’s not just the shoes in and of themselves. It’s everything.
Well, not everything, just
it’s just some things. Some other things. Different things. Related things. If the shoes were
say they were worn by a different person if the person
say the person who was wearing them, who is wearing them, would wear other things with them, then it wouldn’t be the shoes at all. But it’s
it’s the other things. A few things. Specific things. Worn by the person who wears the shoes. Worn by
the person wearing the shoes and good God, man, why do you dress that way? The way you’re dressed right now, of what in God’s name are you thinking? Fuck the shoes, man. We’re not talking about the shoes. In and of themselves, the shoes are fine. But the rest of this get-up, what’s the idea? I mean, Jesus Christ, you’ve got men whistling at you. Giving you the eye. Young guys laugh at you. Women, too. And girls. Pretty girls laughing at you. Is that what you want? Pretty girls laughing at you? Jesus Christ, man.
Listen.
Listen, fucking
just shut up and listen. And stop that stop that
that thing you do. Just stop it. Fuck.
You could dress differently, you know. It’s not like it’s written in stone someplace that you have to be the worst-dressed man in all of Holy Christendom.
For instance, you could wear clothes that match the shoes. For instance. Or you
could buy a new pair to match the clothes. For another instance. You could do that, you’re not
you could. Listen. Fucking listen, man. Do this. Do this. And if you can’t do it for yourself, then fucking do it for me.
Fuck, do it for everyone. Do it for common human esthetic decency. I mean, Jesus, man.
Then the next time we’re in this place, when that waitress looks at you, she won’t be about to bust her seams trying to keep from laughing.
God, she’s a honey. They all are at that age, it doesn’t matter what they look like as long as they’re shipping the proper freight and fuck-all is she ever. Not some sort of centerfold or anything like that, don’t get me wrong, but I mean
and don’t you want to tell her, God, you make me wish
you make me wish I was properly dressed and I’m going to do what my friend here has been telling me to do and I’m going to go out tomorrow and get me some new pants and a couple new shirts and a new pair of shoes, I swear to God.