drinking buddies

This is an excerpt from “Pilgrim’s Bay,” a novella about rusted-out hometowns, quiet tragedy, and the things we carry that no one else can see.

Me, Jake, and Kali meet up day-after-day. At Sammy’s Bar. Five dollar pitchers from ten to midnight. Pearl Jam. The Doors. Janis Joplin on the jukebox. There are other artists, but we don’t care. We know what we like. And we like where we are.

“Suckers are runnin’ in Polack Creek,” Jake says.

“Why do you have to say Polack?” Kali asks.

“I call it Polack because that’s its goddamned name.”

…She sees through me. Toward the jukebox. And blows smoke at dirty ceiling tiles. I am used to this. Her disappointment. And the solid knot of regret that tightens and burns in my gut. It is my punishment. For leaving her. For not saving us. For our loss. And slowly, it is killing me.

Pilgrim’s Bay is Available now at Amazon.