made that dude feel better
Charlie looked at him, said, 'Lay down, buddy, and stay there.'
The guy lay down. His head was smoking a lot less now. 'You know I got to run Leonard in?” Charlie said.
'I know. I thought you didn't smoke?”
'I started. I start two or three times a year. I like to quit so I can really enjoy it when I start back. I got to run you in too.'
'I didn't do anything. I was just puttin' this guy out. I threw dirt on his head.'
'You got a point. The dirt could make things all right. “He said to the guy on the ground, 'You think he was putting the fire out, sir?'
'Shit, man, that motherfucker tripped my black ass and knocked the dog shit out of me. I'm gonna file on his ass. I'm gonna file on everygoddamnbody.'
'See there, Hap, got to run you in.'
'Would it make any difference if I said when I hit him it hurt my hand?'
'I'll put that in my notes. You know, being this close to the fire, it's kinda warm. Toasty even. Very Christmas-like.'
'That's Leonard,' I said. 'Always festive.'
'The Ballad of Davy Crockett' was long gone and the Kentucky Headhunters were singing 'Big Mexican Dinner.'
'I keep trying to figure that song is offensive to Hispanics or not,' Charlie said, 'way the guy does that corny Meskin accent. You think it's offensive?'
'I don't know, ask Leonard's boyfriend, Raul. He could tell you. He's Mexican. But I can let you in on this, Leonard was using some bad language a while ago.”
'Uh oh. I'll put that in my notes too.'
'He called the young man on the ground here the N word.'
'That's right,' said the young man on the ground. 'And in the house, he called me a motherfucker too.'
'Wait a minute,' Charlie said. 'I got a problem here. Being how Leonard's black, is that racist? I mean, me or you said it, it's racist, but it's okay a black guy uses the N word, ain't it?'
'Changing times,' I said. 'It's hard to keep up. If it's not racist, I think it may be politically incorrect.'
'There you are,' Charlie said. 'That's it. Politically incorrect. I think there's some kind of fine for that.'
'Man, this is some shit,' said the guy on the ground. 'Let me up. Someone sees me layin' here, it ain't gonna look good.'
'You think we got you out here to style?” Charlie said. 'Shut the fuck up. “Then to me: 'Think Leonard's finished?'
'Well, the house is lit up good.'
And it was. The fire peaked and popped and rose up into the night sky like a red demon, roiled and licked around the blackened frame of the house. Lumber screeched and sagged. The heat was not quite as pleasant as before. I said, 'It was nice of you to stand here and wait.'
'Hey,' Charlie said, his face popping sweat in the firelight, 'Christmas Eve.'
Charlie looked at the firemen who were standing by with their hoses, and gave them a wave. They didn't exactly rush, but they went over to wash the place down, get it ready for the dozer to come in and push the burnt lumber around, make room for the dopers to bring in a new crack house.
And they would. Rumor was, the Police Chief had friends who had connections to the LaBorde dope traffic, and he liked to help them out for a little slice of the pie. Rumors like that could make a man cynical, even one of my naive and trusting nature.
When I was growing up, guy with a badge was just assumed to be honest, and the Lone Ranger didn't shoot bad guys in the head either. These days, Jesus would carry a gun, and the disciples would hold down and corn-hole their enemies.
'You think Leonard will do time for this one?” I asked.
'So far he hasn't, and I'll do what I can. A night in jail, maybe. But I keep him out of bad stuff this time, you got to make him understand he needs a new hobby. I know a hobby has done wonders for me. I used to be tense, then I got a hobby. You know, I don't get Leonard. I thought queers were into passive stuff. Like knitting and bridge.'
'Don't even let him hear you say that,' I said. 'The passive part, I mean.'
'You can bet I won't.'
'I'll tell him,' said the guy on the ground.
'You do,' Charlie said, 'And I'll stomp a mud hole in your head.'
'I'm cool,' said the guy on the ground.
Leonard strolled over to us then. He looked a little bushed.
'Charlie,' he said.
'Howdy,' Charlie said. 'Okay, Leonard, you and Hap get in the cruiser . . . wait a minute. I'm gonna handcuff
