Ma, who’s that strange man sitting on our porch?
That’s our guest.
He’s staying here?
Yeah.
How’d he find us?
I don’t know, he just came walkin’ down the hill into the yard an asked us if we had a room. Bout the only words he said this whole time.
He must be English.
I think he’s American.
Oh wow. How come he’s just sitting out there like that, all wrapped up in a blanket, just staring at the river?
I don’t know. Suppose he’s cold I guess. I think something might be wrong with him.
What do you think?
I don’t know. He ain’t with nobody either.
He came alone?
I think so. Go ask him if he wants some chai, that’ll warm him up.
I don’t want to.
He ain’t gonna give you no trouble, go on, ask him.
—
He said he don’t want any.
He don’t want any?
That’s what he said.
Why the hell not?
I don’t know. He just sittin there starin at the river like he seen a ghost. You think we should call someone?
Who we gonna call? And what we gonna tell em’? He ain’t causin no trouble, just a bit strange is all.
I don’t like him.
Maybe he’s just hungry. Go ask him if he wants something to eat.
No, I just asked him if he wanted chai!
Go on.
Ma, he makes me so uncomfortable.
He ain’t gonna bite you, go on, ask him if he wants any food.
—
He said he ain’t hungry.
He ain’t hungry?
That’s what he said.
He been sittin there for damn near six hours don’t want nothin to drink don’t want nothin to eat. Hell is wrong with him?
Maybe he’s lonely.
Probably. Lookin like he had a damn lobotomy or somethin’. Came all the way out here by himself for god knows why. Ain’t hungry, ain’t thirsty, ain’t sayin nothin, ain’t doin nothin. Somethin’s wrong with him I’ll tell you that much.
You think he’s married?
Why?
I’m just askin’.
Why don’t you go ask him, try and get him to talk.
Ma, I’m not gonna go ask him if he’s married.
Fine, I’ll ask him.
No, please, Ma, please that’s so embarrassing please don’t—
—
Well, he ain’t married.
He’s not?
Nope.
How old do you think he is?
I don’t know. Maybe late twenties.
And he ain’t married?
Nope.
That’s sad. You think maybe he ain’t fully there, mentally?
Of course he ain’t fully there mentally! Look at him.
I guess you’re right. So how did he get all the way out here?
Hell if I know. He probably don’t even know where he is. Probably don’t even know he left home. It’s a sorry sight is what it is. I tell you what. I bet you he’s one of them type of fellas that feels sorry for himself is what it is. He rather sit there and be miserable and make us watch. He probably think if he sit and pout long enough the world ought to do him a favor. One of them fellas who thinks the world is out to get him. Always findin’ something to complain about. And you know it ain’t ever his fault. It’s always someone else or somethin’ else. He ain’t got no idea what to do with himself so he just sits there and pouts like a child, probably want us to go and do a dance and cheer him up and rub his back and tell him everything gonna be okay. Tell him he don’t got to do nothin no more, we’ll take care of everything. He probably wake up don’t even get out of bed in the morning. Probably lay there all day if he could. Just layin’ there bein’ miserable feelin’ sorry for himself wantin’ someone to come hold his hand through life. I can’t stand it, I really can’t.
Ma, you ain’t got no patience I swear.
Well, hell, I done offered him everything I could give him. You asked if he wanted chai said he don’t want none, asked if he wanted food said he ain’t hungry. He don’t want to help himself then I ain’t interested in helpin’ him either.
Maybe he’s just missin’ home is all.
Then he can go home! I ain’t tell him he had to come all the way out here.
Ma.
Alright, alright. Go on tell him he’s havin’ dinner with us, and don’t take no for an answer.
Okay.
And clear some room next to your father by the furnace so he can warm up.
Ugh, Dad’s gonna try to make him play cards.
Let him play cards then, it’ll be good for him.
perfect
This is very possibly my favorite so far