The Disillusionists cont'd...

At first, I wanted my place to look like a chalet in Italy or something. It had this crappy trim that somebody put up years ago and nobody ever bothered to take down. I spent days painting and texturing the walls, tiling the floor and refinishing the baseboards - all using "found" materials. Now it was all nearly invisible under all my stuff (pizza boxes and empties not included)

Anyway, now I barely recognized it. The landlay's kids were running around upstairs so I just kind of lay there on my side thinking... So long as E.I. stayed off my back I could stretch things out for another three months at least. What else was there to do anyway? Maybe May'll do me finally... I went and took a shower - twice - the first time felt so good. I could still pull in the ladies; the mirror it must be said, agreed. I put on the same outfit as usual, t-shirt and jeans with my steel-toe workboots and San Jose cap. In the spring and fall I might add a jacket. In the winter, a sweater. That was it. I've never had a cold.

I burst through the front door into the bright afternoon sunlight. May idled her car at the curb.

"God-damn. We'll have to find us some chaps to go with that nasty aftershave pardner..."

"Shut the fuck up." I said, grinning from ear to ear.