0ozLe P0ol
10
Bugs comes out of the gas station and replaces the batteries under a lamp post. He tests his synth/sampler and proceeds over to a spot just off the casual lane of foot traffic to the entrance of the Outside Inn.
Bugs sets down his lunchbox, opens it and begins his spastic routine. "Tomato spring tire iron munch cord staple splat hamster jacket swallow rib
fireplug song on midnight babble fibrulator moonshine cube tractor wag lady bug truck ramp monkey spank monkey spank monkey spank monkey spank eat the eggs the milk stank!"
The roughneck patrons off the bar and grill mostly seem mildly confused by Bugs' act. A few bounce coins into the metal box.
Jumpcut> The showman sings and dances. A sun darkened woman in a dayglo workvest, steeltoed boots and tar stained jeans comes out and watches Bugs.
"Do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it till
your Mama comes home I left the cheese in the kitchen
I need a heavy metal sandwich!" He ends the song.
"Wow, you're pretty good. You should go to Hollywood and go on America's Most Wanted."
"Thank you." He smiles serenely. "Hey, bump my head." Bugs leans close slowly and motions with his index finger for her to do the same.
She complies.
He looks into her eyes. "Wooaaoo!"
Bugs appears to her as a one eyed bugaboo. She looks the same way to him.
"You look like a monster."
"You do too."
"2 monsters. One eye," he says mildly.
She giggles and brushes her sun bleached hair out of her eyes. "Whatever that means."
"I'm Bugs. Who are you?"
"Asia West." She holds out her hand.
He takes it and shakes it as he looks into her eyes with an easy smirk, "Good to know you, Asia."
"What's your last name?"
Bugs looks up for a couple of seconds and answers, "Fido."
"Bugs Fido, that's a unique name."
"Look who's talking. Are you a construction worker?"
"I'm a flagger. Traffic control."
"You stand in the freeway with a stopsign?"
"Pretty much. Do you want a beer?"
Bugs thinks it over for a moment, "Ok. I'll do whatever you want."
"Ok. Let's go."
Asia leads him back down the road and they go down a wide trail.
They come to a campground where tents stand pitched and RVs occupy an asphalt lot. They hold hands as they stroll to her small banged up camper, which sits hitched behind an old sedan. She stops at the door and kisses him on the mouth for awhile.
"Slow down, boy. I'm going to have to teach you to kiss."
"I'm willing to practice lots."
"Go take a shower first." Asia goes into the camper and returns with a bar of soap and a towel. She gives them to Bugs and points across the campsite. "Don't get lost."
They kiss. Bugs goes and she enters her abode on wheels.
Jumpcut> Bugs returns, knocks on the door and enters. Soon the camper bounces up and down more and more wildly. Grease Squirt and Fido watch it, look at each other, and focus on it again.
Jumpcut> The camper sits parked, perfectly still, in the morning.
On the bed in the cramped movable domicile Bugs stares at Asia's back. A big confederate flag tattoos the space between her shoulder blades. He kisses just below it. She stirs.
"Asia, I don't think the south will rise again."
"That's ok. As long as you do."
Outside the camper starts to jiggle once more. The dog and dummy watch.
Asia's sedan blazes down the thruway.
"So where are you going in Commerce City?" Asia asks.
"The Monte Carlo apartments."
Fido sits up on the bed in back, alert. Grease Squirt notices that the dog has noticed.
"Why are you going there?" the woman asks.
"Lie! Lie! Whatever you do don't tell her the real reason!" Fido trips.
"To look for a girl I used to love, I think. Do you know someone named Rose with a rose tattoo.?"
Outside on the road the sedan screeches to a stop. Instantly Bugs, with his instrument and lunchbox, stumbles out. Fido and Grease Squirt come out after him. Asia peels out.
"I told you not to tell her," Fido tells him.
Bugs looks down the hiway. "That's ok. I don't think it's that far."
"You're probably right. I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry."
They start walking.