Cigs, Chicken, Jesus, and Lok.

It’s June 1, 2014.  Been quite some time since I tapped these keys.  And for some reason, the words linger and refuse to hit the screen.  Perhaps I need more coffee. It’s nine forty eight.  As soon as I finish this macaroni, chicken, cauliflower, and cheese…

I’m back.  Anyone got a ...?

“Hey,” can I bum a smoke?”  I said to Lok.  Flames flicked and licked. Barbecue sauce and chicken fat sizzled. Smoke rose from the coals.   

“Sure,”  he said as he tonged a breast.

Coffee’s done.  Um, perhaps I made too much.  Phsshht, nope. No way one can make too much. Not even if it’s Gevalia from Gälve.  My friend Ronnie lives there. Nice town. Nice coffee.  It’s in Sweden by the sea. Damn, I miss her...

“Wait ‘til I flip this,” Lo said.

I stood there. A mild nic fit crawled from the back of my brain.  I smoked my last cig a few hours ago.  Had to sacrifice for groceries.  One needs food ya know.  Wife and I went to Aldi.  At one time you could buy a sweet amount of grub there for 30 bucks.  Spent 35.  Couldn't even buy everything on the list. Damn.  Was thinking about getting some cheap smokes,  American Eagle 20 lights, but couldn't. We spent five more than planned.  Shit. 

My brain blanked.  

“Here,”  Lok said, lifting his beer. He took some Reds from the dingy shorts that dangled from his hips. His eyes remained fixed on the grill.

“Anyone got a light,” I said. 

“Oh, sure,”  Jesus said. Fire sprang from his fingers.  Smoke ebbed from the corner of his mouth, caressed his beard, and disappeared.  He sipped on a can of Busch Light.

“Thanks,” I said and sat down on the white stairs.

“You look like an artist,” Jesus said.

Lok poured BBQ sauce over the chicken and took a brush from the table.

I sipped my Pabst and inhaled.

Lok gazed at the grill, sipped his beer, paused, hit his smoke, broad brushed the chicken, paused, and brushed it again.  “I know.”  He looked up and smiled.

....It’s eleven eleven.  Got laundry in the drier and food to fix.  The wife works from six to six. It’s her first day at Target Distribution.  I’m gonna make her some grub to eat when she gets home.  I work from 2 pm until 11.  So, I guess I gots to go.  Cheers.