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"After the bartender throws them out, ha, ha," the Dog said, running to catch up, "they're schlepping along and the dog asks its master, 'Was it Joe Dimaggio?'" The joke was so bad Jimmy forgot his vow and exploded, "That joke's not funny! It's so old it makes me sick!" Then he began to lose it. "Look at this hair!" he yelled, pointing to the wig he wore but meaning how thin his real hair had become. "I'm not getting any younger and the world doesn't wait!" This time he'd hurt the Dog's feelings. "Don't tell me about the world," it said testily. "It takes seven of your years to make just one of mine, you know." "I'm not feeding you tonight." The words had just come out unrehearsed, but for the first time the Dog didn't have any comeback and their power to open up a space free of dogs was written all over its stunned-stupid face. |
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"I've only got one buck left," Jimmy added bitterly, "and I'm going to buy myself a lavish, ninety-nine cent, gamblers-special breakfast before I go on my audition tomorrow--alone." In answer, the Dog rolled over and played dead for the kid that a mother was carrying in a backpack to the next casino. But Jimmy knew--the Dog was only putting on that dumb show that always got his goat--but not tonight! Not ever again! Jimmy broke into a run. "Hey!" the Dog yelled, giving chase. "Since you're such a comedic genius," Jimmy yelled over a shoulder, "figure out a funny way to feed yourself!" A man could outrun a horse in a distance contest, he'd heard. But he was a smoker so had to endure the Dog loping alongside him, laughing, "Hey Jimmy, you're into words, huh? okay, you hear the one about the loser who brought a Dog to Vegas!--ah-ha-he-hew ha!...." |