THE VOICES, THE VOICES

He was audible for more than a block in either direction, loudly telling people to shut up, shut the F up, or shut up expletive expletive expletive. While also berating them for other things they were doing. Seeing as there was no one near him, those people against whom he harboured such animus may have been entirely within his cranium.
Some of them were probably passive aggressive.

In any case, the people sleeping on the sidewalks weren't it.
He had no beef with them, nor they with him.
Possibly unaware of each other.

The screamingly loopy are a fact of life here. The ones you really have to watch out for are drunks singing country music in karaoke bars. Size ten egos, size six brains, zero talent, and just about pulsating with attitude.

The karaoke joint was nearly empty when we passed by en route to hamburgers, but packed to the eaves with loud bodies an hour or so later when we headed that way. So we went to the back up joint, where my friend was greeted warmly by an ebulient fellow who recognized him from an alternate universe and miss Vivien put on the kettle for my tea before pouring out any more drinks. Other than the great good cheer from the visitor from other dimensions upon our arrival it was a mercifully calm and peaceful place.

My body disagrees, but I'm really only barely beyond my teenage years mentally. Just a bit more grumpy. And I'm bally outraged that massacring songs is allowed indoors (karaoke), but peacefully smoking one's pipe without offending anyone is frowned upon. Bad singers should be out on the street, but pleasant and equitable pipe smoking fellows should be inside where they won't be bad examples for impressionable kiddiewinkies, looking cool and distinguished. Unless you want them imitating us the moment they find out where briar and tobacco can be bought. Which we will happily tell them. With recommendations.


The snazzy looking pipe is an older Dunhill Bruyere billiard, the tobacco is a compound from Cornell & Diehl, red Virginias with a soupçon of Perique. There's a little age on it.
Trust me, young gentleman, the ladies will absolutely love it!
Or they would, if you could smoke around them.


You know, doctors used to smoke pipes, before they became hooked on cigarettes.
Which was during the fifties. Luckies and Camels.


I don't have any voices in my head.
They're all outside my body.


Good night.



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