the fourth
i rode a bus down to a fireworks display in the city
i expected an array of old people with varying health conditions
instead there were a bunch of drunken college kids
& it made me want to dismantle the term ‘higher education’:
i need a chaser, doug hand me that, wait, doug, what is that?
it’s coke, here
there’s rum in this! there has to be, doug!
doug laughs
the bottle is thrown two rows up, back to doug
he hands it to the girl next to him
she sips & smiles, saying it’s not ‘too bad’
he says nah
and finishes it
an african-american woman around their age is trying to give instructions
on a microphone in the front of the bus
guys listen, c’mon
excuse me, can we direct our attention to the front
like i was saying, we will be arriving at zone j
but will be rendezvousing at zone k
for those expecting a round trip
jesus I wouldn’t have boarded if I knew I was going to get lectured for five dollars
I get less painful briefs back at base
jesus I might as well be back at base
thank you for your cooperation
everyone claps
are you like excited or nervous to be deployed?
i’m excited, i’ve been waiting to see some action, you know?
yeah, like definitely, like this is what you’ve been training for
oh i know, like a dog
a fuckin’ dog
i couldn’t drink for 6 months.
damn that sucks, that really sucks
and I had just turned 21
oh my god, you’re my hero
