The trout were laughing. He had never harmed a trout. He always released trout, but they were laughing, and he could not let go. Thursday evening—the third Thursday of the month—Frank drove the Town Car to Oswego’s for dinner with Barney Schlegel, Harry Strand, Charlie Commager and now Kenny Sottlemyer. The Stumps, Barney called them—what was left when wives burned out. Barney always arrived early enough to get the round corner table that seated six. The fact that there were five of them now, with one chair empty, made Frank think of a missing man formation. Frank looked at the menu. He knew what he wanted. He wanted the spaghetti and meatballs with
buttered garlic French bread. Oswego’s had the best meat sauce in town. He always ordered extra meat sauce. It was only on the third Thursday of each month, and he wanted the extra meat sauce and the buttered garlic French bread. Barney ordered a seafood salad. Harry ordered grilled chicken breast and a baked potato. Kenny ordered a salad, and Charlie said, “Give me what he said,” pointing at Harry. “I’ll have spaghetti and meatballs with extra meat sauce,” Frank said, “and an order of buttered garlic bread. And a bottle of Corona.” The others looked at him. Frank looked at the empty chair. “So, anyway, like I was saying, it’s my damned eyes again,” Charlie said. “So I have an appointment. I can’t watch television. I can’t even read the paper. Everything’s a blur.” Kenny removed a small amber-colored canister from his shirt pocket and snapped off the lid. He shook out two white tablets, one small, the other oval and large. He put the tablets into his mouth and reached for a glass of water. “Anna had cataracts,” Barney said. “That’s how it goes. One thing, then another.” Frank looked about the room. Oswego’s was a family
Richard Dokey | Rainbow
“Well, then, you’re nuts, Frank. Now go on back to sleep.” “Sure, nuts,” Frank said. “All right, then,” Ed said. “All right,” Frank said. “But it was a horrible dream, Ed. You were in it. I was in it. There was this river. We were fishing.” Ed hung up.
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