Cemetery Street

***

I was taking Ellie for a walk when I stumbled across three kids standing on a corner. Hey. Didn't I see you earlier?" A Black kid asked - he was the leader.

"Did you?" I stared down at him. The other two watched.

"You were with those two weird chicks."

"Yeah," a Hispanic kid said. "The black one, she's a bitch. She juggles knives. I used to watch her practice on the sidewalk. She yelled me. Told me if I ever bothered her she'd cut my nuts off.

"She ain't cuttin' nobody's nuts off," the leader said. A second black kid didn't say anything; he knelt and played with Ellie.

"I've seen her do it. She's nasty." I said. I looked around as if I was about to tell a secret.. "Between you and me, she hates guys. It's a good idea to stay away from her. She eats deep fried nuts for lunch."

"I knew it! They're lesbos?" The leader cried.

"The blonde isn't. The knife lady is." I said.

"Bullshit man, Them bitches always together. They clam slammers."

"They ain't," I said.

"How do you know?"

"I'm the blonde's boyfriend."

Two of the kids laughed. "You're her boy-fool," The leader said.

The quiet kid petting Ellie spoke up. "What's her name?"

"Shannie," I answered.

"Hi Shannie," the quiet kid said scratching Ellie behind her ears.

"No, the blonde is Shannie. That's Eleanor Rigby. You can call her Ellie."

"Hi Ellie," he said. Ellie kissed his face.

"Watch out man, those lesbos will convert your dog," the Hispanic said.

There's a Steve Lucas in every crowd, I thought. "You're funny, too bad you ain't original," I said.

"What kind of dog is she?" the kid petting Ellie asked.

Staring at the leader I answered: "Ellie's a Coonhound. She doesn't like wise asses. The last kid that gave me shit, Ellie ripped the rat-bastard's arm off and chewed on the bones for weeks. Human bones make her happy." I warned.

"You full of shit," The leader said as he took a step backwards.

"Hey Drew," the Hispanic kid cried to the leader. "You going to take that shit? Man, the cracker just called you a coon!"

"Try us," I said, glaring at the leader. "Excuse me," I said to the kid petting Ellie. "Ellie's got a job to do."