Sisyphus Wins by Fabyanic Jerry

Author:Fabyanic, Jerry
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Western Exposure
Published: 2016-10-11T00:00:00+00:00

1975

THE BEER MUG THUMPS as Brad sets it down hard on the bar and turns to Jonathan with a frustrated look. His eyes are bloodshot, though not from drinking. He and Jonathan have only had two drafts apiece. His voice is strong and his head shakes from side to side. “I ... still ... don’t get why you feel you need to go, man” he says.

“That makes two of us,” Jonathan admits. “I don’t know. Ever since I made that trip to Colorado last summer and climbed out on that snowfield at twelve thousand feet, I cannot get it out of my head. Since then I’ve had this sense that I’m part of the mountains and belong in them.”

“We got mountains here too. Maybe not as high, but still pretty rugged.”

“True, but the Rockies are very different than the Alleghenies. These are like foothills. Besides, Brad, I don’t belong here.”

“Whaddaya mean you don’t belong here? Of course you do. We’re a team, man. It’d be like breaking up the Steelers, like us trading Mean Joe Greene or Lynn Swann. Hey, you know we’re going to win the Super Bowl this year.”

“Well, maybe, but Colorado has a team too, the Broncos.”

“Bunch of sissy cowgirls. Never be a team as tough as the Steelers. They’re like our town, man: hard as steel. Shot and a beer. That’s who we are.”

“You are. I’m not.”

“That’s crazy and you know it. Look, is it something one of us did or said? Cause if it is, I’ll kick his fucking ass. You know I’d do that for you.”

“I know you would, Brad, but no way! It’s been cool hanging with you, CJ, Burke, and the other guys, and I love Kristi. You’re lucky to have her as your wife.”

“Yeah, sometimes I wonder, though, if you two don’t have a thing going behind my back.”

“We don’t and wouldn’t ever. You can trust me on that.”

Brad nudges Jonathan’s arm with his elbow and jokingly laughs. “Too much of a good buddy to hit on his friend’s wife even if she’s gorgeous and has big tits?

“She has big tits? I hadn’t noticed.”

“Yeah, if you haven’t, you’re the only guy within fifty miles who hasn’t.”

“Well, let’s leave it at that. I’m not interested in your wife, believe me. No, Brad, ever since that day in Rocky Mountain National Park, I knew Colorado was to be my home. Something about it. When you’re up that high and you look around and see nothing but mountains and snow and trees down below. And you inhale the crisp clean air. Now I know what John Denver means when he sings ‘Rocky Mountain High.’ It’s different, Brad. It’s not like here. I can’t put my finger on it yet, but somehow I feel that’s where I’m to go. It’s where I can be free to be me.”

“You’re free to be you here.”

Jonathan swivels his stool to look directly at Brad. His eyes focus and his tone becomes firm. “No, I’m not, Brad. Someday maybe I can tell you about it, when I understand it.

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