And the Hippos Were Boiled in Their Tanks by William S. Burroughs & Jack Kerouac

Author:William S. Burroughs & Jack Kerouac
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub, azw3
Publisher: Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Published: 2009-11-10T05:00:00+00:00

11

WILL DENNISON

FRIDAY NIGHT AFTER WORK I MET HELEN AND WE went back to my apartment. But Al, Phillip, and Ryko were waiting on my doorstep. I said hello to Al and looked at Mike and Phillip in disgust, without saying anything.

Phillip said, “Well, we’re shipping out tomorrow. We’ve been assigned to a ship and report at the pier tomorrow morning.”

I said, “Can I count on that? I’m getting sick of these abortive departures.”

“This is for sure. Now in view of the fact that we are leaving, why don’t you make a generous gesture and take us all to dinner?”

“If I could be sure you were really going I’d take you to the Colony—since I can’t be sure, we will compromise and eat here.” I started upstairs with Helen and they all followed.

Helen sat down in the easy chair before Phillip could. I went over to the desk and got a piece of paper. “I’ll make out a list,” I said.

“How about some steak?” said Al. “I saw some on Bleecker Street.”

“Okay,” I said. “And get a quart of Dubonnet and seltzer water.” I wrote the items down. “Some bleu cheese, Italian bread, butter, apples, and don’t forget to get some ice for the Dubonnet.” I handed Al the list.

“How about some rum?” said Phillip.

“No,” I said. “Dubonnet is a better summer drink. Besides, I don’t want to spend the money.”

Phillip said, “Don’t be bourgeois, Dennison. After all, we’re shipping out tomorrow. You may never see us again.”

“I’m the later bourgeois Rimbaud,” I said. “And if you don’t come back, I’ll always remember you just the way you look now.”

I gave Al ten dollars. Phillip started to rummage through my bureau drawer and said he wanted to put on some shorts.

“Yes,” said Al, leaping up, his joints creaking audibly, “a wonderful idea!”

I kept a sharp eye on Phillip until he had fished out two pairs of the shorts I used occasionally to work out in a gymnasium. He handed Al a pair of the shorts, and they changed right there in the middle of the room.

Helen said, “Don’t mind me, fellows.”

I said, “Do you guys intend to go out on the public streets dressed like that?”

Al said, “Of course.”

I turned to Ryko. “You better take the ten dollars and do the shopping. These two imbeciles will get picked up for indecent exposure.”

Ryko took the ten dollars and the shopping list and they all left. “Don’t forget the ice,” I said as they walked out the door.

I gave my full attention to Helen, but she kept saying the others would be back any time and I said that didn’t make any difference to me. And she said, “After all,” coyly, and I got disgusted.

Phillip came back after a few minutes with a small package containing the wine.

I said, “Where’s the ice? Where’s the seltzer? That stuff isn’t fit to drink without seltzer and ice.”

Phillip said, “Oh I sent Al to get the ice. It comes in big heavy chunks, you know. Ryko is getting the rest of the stuff.

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