volume one IN THE D U D L E Y C L A R K - Ohio Vine Tours

“I have to keep everything of value locked away.” He explains
this as he re-settles into his seat. Uncorking the bottle, he pours
himself a belt. “I have a suspicious character for a housemate.”
He passes the bottle to Pete.
Rick is heedless of this jab, focused as he is on the production
of five white torpedoes.
Pete, poured, passes the bottle to Roy.
Mel looks approvingly upon Roy as he fills his glass.
“I see someone’s been broadening Roy’s palette.”
Roy flushes.
“Pete’s been havin’ me over his place, some.” He looks to Pete
as if for approval. “We watch old black-and-whites. Westerns,
mostly.”
Mel is intrigued.
“Mostly?”
Pete picks up the thread.
“I might’ve given th’ lad a dram or two. Can’t rightly recall.
An’ I may’ve rolled ’im a doob once or twice. Wouldn’t surprise
me any.”
Mel chuckles into his glass.
“No one’s telling, dear. I say it’s about time. Next thing, our
Royboy will be having sexual congress.”
Roy’s eyes shift nervously.
Jason snorts.
“Yeah, when feral cats line dance.”
“Now, now,” chides Mel. “It’s always the quiet ones.”
He presents his glass for Pete and Roy to clink.
“Here’s to old black-and-white Westerns.”
“Skoal.”
“OK.”
clink clink clink
As if gifts from merciful gods—gods placated by clinks and
tinkles—five joints travel around the table.
“Ah,” announces Mel. “The Life.” He tips a candle towards
the slender cylinder between his lips.
Briefly, his face is bathed in saffron light.
Pete sparks off his old Bic lighter.
A lull ensues. Quiet reigns as the group’s higher brain centers,
10 ROY ROGERS IN THE 21ST CENTURY