Blackbirdan online journal of literature and the artsSpring 2011 v10n1
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DAVID ROBY

Wesley Cutrere
     from Unseen Character

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(A man out of breath suddenly appears in the alleyway.)

Bates got shot in the stomach. I’m serious! By that awful Wainwright boy. There’s no need to get dressed. You don’t need to put on your shoes. You don’t need to grab your sweater. Would you settle down for just one second? You’re making me dizzy. He didn’t make it, Amanda! He died on the way to the hospital in Memphis.

I knew you would cry. I knew you were going to cry.

Now, I am going to put my arm around you. But I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about my arm around your shoulder. I know how you can get. You can get the wrong idea a lot.

You get the wrong idea about a lot of boys, I figure.

There, there. Good little girl. Let it all out.

They said his insides were on the outside. And there was just no way of putting his insides back inside.

It happened over at Moon Lake Casino. Yep, crazy things happen over there. I think it has something to do with the moon. Or the lake. Or the casino.

There’s also that big magnolia tree out front. Big, rubbery leaves. Its aroma is intoxicating.

I think the tree, combined with the booze, is sometimes more than a man can handle. People think they can do what they want out there at the casino. They don’t think the casino has laws that apply to them. They think witnesses are absent in the shadows and silhouettes in the front and backyards of places like casinos.

But there are eyes all around. You never know who or what might be watching.

There are enormous majestic trees out there by the lake. That magnolia tree bears witness. Sure, she’s pretty to look at. Fragrant and ornamental. But I’ll tell you one thing. She can also tell a few stories. She has been witness to many stories.  end


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