pale moon

by nick nelson

frank and jesse were standing on the corner. a pale moon came up over the warehouse. billy came along. where you headed, billy? frank asked. down to the river, billy answered promptly. to do what? jesse asked. to meet the man. frank and jesse both laughed. you don’t go down to the river to meet the man, frank said. you don’t ? billy asked. no, dude, jesse said, you go down to the river to shoot your old lady. oh. but you are not going down to the river to shoot your old lady, are you? frank asked. no, i was not planning on that. because you don’t have a gun, jesse suggested. that is true, billy agreed or an old lady, frank added. frank and jesse both laughed. but if you want an old lady you might find one down by the river, jesse said. you might find a gun too, if you look hard enough, frank added. i could? billy asked. you never know what you can find in the trash cans down by the river, jesse said. or under the bushes, frank said. billy took his hat off and scratched his head. you guys are confusing me, he said. we didn’t mean to do that, billy, jesse assured him. billy put his hat back on. if i can’t find the man down by the river, he asked, what am i going to do? try the park, frank told him. the park? can i find the man at the park? right at the front entrance. you can’t miss him. he wears a big black hat just like stagger lee used to wear. is he stagger lee? billy asked doubtfully. no, stagger lee is dead. he is in outlaw heaven, jesse added, looking down on us even as we speak. this guy’s name is chuck. so should i tell him frank and jesse sent me? no, you moron, tell him percival sent you. percival, can you remember that? i can remember that. then you might as well head on over before you forget. billy left. after a while wyatt came along. you boys behaving yourselves? you can see for yourself, sheriff, we are not up to any mischief. the mayor is driving by in a little while, with some important gentlemen from out of town. i don’t want you two messing up the landscape with your unsightly presences. aw, sheriiff, we thought this was a free country. i got a couple of bunks in the jailhouse you are free to spend the night in, if you don’t move along. frank and jesse moved along, slowly. wyatt stood for a while, chewing on his straw, miss laura lee came along, swinging her handbag like a do-si-do. howdy, sheriff. howdy, miss laura. a lovely evening, sheriff. indeed it is, miss laura. i was just thinking how pleasant it is, perfect for the mayor to drive by with his important guests from out of town, and no riff raff on the streets. i get your drift, sheriff. why, i was talking to my dear friend madame marie just this evening, and we were remarking on what a lovely town this used to be, filled with churchgoing folks who knew how to mind their own business. that is very nicely put, miss laura. well, i will not detain you , sheriff, i know you must be a busy man, with busy business to attend to. good night, miss laura. good night, sheriff. miss laura drifted off, leaving the sheriff to his thoughts. the sheriff looked down the street. it was empty, with no wind, and no sign of rain. a light went on in a window.