Thursday, March 12, 2020

Sea Oak


Sea Oak is a 2000 short story by award-winning author George Saunders. You can read it online here. This one includes a club where men perform for clients, just so you're not surprised by the descriptions once you get into the story. It begins,
At Six Mr. Frendt comes on the P.A. and shouts, "Welcome to Joysticks!" Then he announces Shirts Off. We take off our flightjackets and fold them up. We take off our shirts and fold them up. Our scarves we leave on. Thomas Kirster's our beautiful boy. He's got long muscles and bright-blue eyes. The minute his shirt comes off two fat ladies hustle up the aisle and stick some money in his pants and ask will he be their Pilot. He says sure. He brings their salads. He brings their soups. My phone rings and the caller tells me to come see her in the Spitfire mock-up. Does she want me to be her Pilot? I'm hoping. Inside the Spitfire is Margie, who says she's been diagnosed with Chronic Shyness Syndrome, then hands me an Instamatic and offers me ten bucks for a close-up of Thomas's tush.

Do I do it? Yes I do.

It could be worse. It is worse for Lloyd Betts. Lately he's put on weight and his hair's gone thin. He doesn't get a call all shift and waits zero tables and winds up sitting on the P-51 wing, playing solitaire in a hunched-over position that gives him big gut rolls.

I Pilot six tables and make forty dollars in tips plus five an hour in salary.

After closing we sit on the floor for Debriefing.

10 comments:

  1. I had to laugh at this easy read. Not sure where it could go from there, since it seems the fun was all in the first few paragraphs. I'll try to catch this one soon.

    I've become very concerned over COVID-19. My friend Joseph, who lives in CA, told me to disinfect any and everything coming into my house, like my mail and my groceries. He said to disinfect my mailbox, too. I had several outings planned in April that I may cancel. No sense tempting fate. PLEASE be careful in your world, too.

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    1. He's a good author. I was pleased to find this free online :)

      We have rapidly increased in numbers here in TN, going from 9 to 18 in just a few days. There are 2 here in my county, and county schools have closed 'til the 30th. The UofM is extending Spring Break and going to online classes for the rest of the semester. The annual St. Patrick's Day parade has been postponed. I don't get out much anyway so won't vary my routine. I wish people could get tested. I think that would help a lot.

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  2. ...I love the nose art!

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    1. I'm enjoying some variety as I find these stories :)

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  4. Sounds like a fun read ...lol 😉. Wishing you a happy Friday and Weekend! Hugs, Jo x

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    1. I had no idea how much was available online 'til I started looking :)

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  5. 😺 Makes me think of the SNL Chris Farley and Patrick Swayze audition for Chippendales 😺

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    1. Yes, it's kinda fun to see the menfolk getting ogled for a change lol

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