Jim Meirose’s work has appeared in numerous venues. His novels include Sunday Dinner with Father Dwyer (Optional Books), Understanding Franklin Thompson (JEF), Le Overgivers au Club de la Résurrection (Mannequin Haus), and No and Maybe – Maybe and No (Pski’s Porch). Info: www.jimmeirose.com @jwmeirose
His work has been previously featured in In Parentheses.
Visit Old Ben, World’s Largest Steer
Mr. Gerdulon tooled along, after further, with no more of any incidents, trying to forget all previous debacles encountered on this his latest lone an’ a lonely long business trip, and hoping underneath the smooth sense of his driving, that his pre-involved bottom-line registers would not load with further and future debacles, of course, though, none of these hopes being super-consciously hoped for—but here came a sign.
Visit Old Ben – World’s Largest Steer.
Next Exit
Under 12 Free
Huh? It may now, might now, maybe be interesting, now to stop and see thee methinks flicked down him, but. Properly he’s not, being not accompanied by ‘least one squad of underagers and the authoresses of their beings, or at least one of her type, to stop and make a family outing of a previously blanked-over countryday. But, even so, within Mr. Gerdulon, slowly revolving, this passed fully by, pulled up his gas-foot, thought into it a possible swerve off to that way to this this this this Old Ben – World’s Largest Steer. But off, of course, if this path were to be taken, some members of more suitable groups come out ‘nd over seeing Old Ben – World’s Largest Steer, may have been less looking on big Ben, than simply idling the fringes of their groups with halfwise disinterest, and they may glance on the Gerdulon asking idly asking themselves, who. Who is older lone man this older lone man at Old Ben’s fence looking on all alone? This is a family attraction et et this is a fine sunny family-style day for doing what’s done when there’s nothing else to do and nowhere else to go, so. So; who is this, what is this, this lone paunchy old gentleman old gentleman come to seem out of place at this place where and when everyone’s some spouse or spouse of a spouse with at least one child or one child plus a spouse or mayhaps maybe not, but, in any in each and every case and every of these one of these cases, nobody’s ever a lone and this man is individual and this is a man is a lone individual, elsewise said, an anomaly. Eh—an anomaly ‘pared to those normally viewing Old Ben – World’s Largest Steer, and, his mode of dress, is yes is, even more off-sides overly off, over sides. The minimum laterally ‘llowable requirement to view such family tractions as Big Ole Ben, is blue clothing with also at least one red white and blue backpack for good credit, but, why? Why is it popping that is the worst wrong thing about being at Ben this is the worst—Mr. Gerdulon, inside unknowingly, knew—that if he decided to come to the bar ‘fore this Old Ben – World’s Largest Steer, he’d be tempted. In front of all onlookers. Tempted ‘front of all onlookers to sign his down-dotline on some suitable flat spot on the very bar—that could not be iron—before him—this had to be wooden, could not be iron—and scratchdown with his pricking-sharp nail on his very own hand, held to the very most perfect spot, where he’d scratch out his name, ‘splaining while doing it he did it ‘cause someday after Ben’s gone eh this place’s plowed under this board off this bar will be held for collectors, ‘cause when. ‘cause when, but. And this being—can’t say it—the stares of the onlookers would drive him back ‘cause eh because—still can’t say it—will drive him back, have driven him back, and. Mr. Gerdulon, back, so smoothly tooled on, back-powering past the exit, having decided to come back someday, by way of this tallboy of a convoluted process, when conditions were ripe for a visit to Old. Old Ben. Old Ben World’s. Old Ben World’s Largest Old Ben World’s Largest Steer. Largest Steer.
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By In Parentheses in IP Volume 7
32 pages, published 1/15/2022
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By In Parentheses in Volume 6
80 pages, published 10/15/2020
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