Judy's Dress
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Judy's Dress
"...'My God,' he said, 'look over there, see a dress?' He pointed out back. 'In the branch of that tree? A rag, yellow and black?'
I was able to see a thing like a flag, flapping high in the branches over a shed.
'The first girl ever drug me to bed wore that very same dress. I was about ten and she was probably less, and at the time a lay seemed like such a big deal I asked her if didnt she think, feel, we oughta announce it some way? Like, say, tell our folks, 'Mom, Judy and me got engaged today.' And I meant what i said, I was that big a fool; I thought if you made it, man, you were legally wed, right there on the spot, whether it was something you wanted or not, and that there wasnt any breaking the rule. But this little whore - at the most eight or nine - reached down and got her dress off the floor and said it was mine, said,' You can hang this up someplace, I'll go home in my drawers, announce it that way - they'll get the idea.' Jesus, nine years old, he said, reached over and pinched Candy's nose,' and knew a lot more than a good many pros.'
She bit his hand, laughing, and he studied the mark.
'So, anyhow, after she went home in her pants i waited till dark when i had the change to throw that damned dress out in the night - but you feel that wind? Caught the dress like a kite and whipped it around the house outta sight and the next morning, by God, it was hung up in that tree for the whole town, was how I figured then, to turn out and see.'
He sucked his hand, so woebegone that Candy laughed and gave it a kiss.
'So my colors were flown, and from that day to this it seemed I might as well live up to my name - dedicated lover - and it's the God's truth: that little nine-year-old kid out of my youth's the one who's to blame.'
The house drifted past. He yawned and winked,' Taught me how to love, bless her sweet ass.'
Then - as he was talking - a set of tail-lights going past lit up McMurphy's face, and the windshield reflected an expression that was allowed only because he figured it'd be too dark for anybody in the car to see, dreadfully tired and strained and frantic, like there wasnt enough time left for something he had to do...
While his relaxed, good-natured voice doled out his life for us to live, a rollicking past full of kid fun and drinking buddies and loving women and barroom battles over meager honors - for all of us to dream ourselves into..."
--- "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey
"...'My God,' he said, 'look over there, see a dress?' He pointed out back. 'In the branch of that tree? A rag, yellow and black?'
I was able to see a thing like a flag, flapping high in the branches over a shed.
'The first girl ever drug me to bed wore that very same dress. I was about ten and she was probably less, and at the time a lay seemed like such a big deal I asked her if didnt she think, feel, we oughta announce it some way? Like, say, tell our folks, 'Mom, Judy and me got engaged today.' And I meant what i said, I was that big a fool; I thought if you made it, man, you were legally wed, right there on the spot, whether it was something you wanted or not, and that there wasnt any breaking the rule. But this little whore - at the most eight or nine - reached down and got her dress off the floor and said it was mine, said,' You can hang this up someplace, I'll go home in my drawers, announce it that way - they'll get the idea.' Jesus, nine years old, he said, reached over and pinched Candy's nose,' and knew a lot more than a good many pros.'
She bit his hand, laughing, and he studied the mark.
'So, anyhow, after she went home in her pants i waited till dark when i had the change to throw that damned dress out in the night - but you feel that wind? Caught the dress like a kite and whipped it around the house outta sight and the next morning, by God, it was hung up in that tree for the whole town, was how I figured then, to turn out and see.'
He sucked his hand, so woebegone that Candy laughed and gave it a kiss.
'So my colors were flown, and from that day to this it seemed I might as well live up to my name - dedicated lover - and it's the God's truth: that little nine-year-old kid out of my youth's the one who's to blame.'
The house drifted past. He yawned and winked,' Taught me how to love, bless her sweet ass.'
Then - as he was talking - a set of tail-lights going past lit up McMurphy's face, and the windshield reflected an expression that was allowed only because he figured it'd be too dark for anybody in the car to see, dreadfully tired and strained and frantic, like there wasnt enough time left for something he had to do...
While his relaxed, good-natured voice doled out his life for us to live, a rollicking past full of kid fun and drinking buddies and loving women and barroom battles over meager honors - for all of us to dream ourselves into..."
--- "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" by Ken Kesey
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on Saturday, August 19, 2006 at 10:20 AM.
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