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"Shannie, you've never looked so beautiful," I heard him say over and over The cadence of his voice resonated like a song whose title I couldn't recall Where have I heard that voice, I thought staring at the moonlit ce Why would Count beat the piss out of so? They wouldn't tell ht

"Don't ask," Count said the nextWe didn't speak all the way to school At the front door he said, "I'll talk to you later"

After school, I ventured don in search of Russell

"Sorry James," Helen said from behind Wally's counter "Only two students at a time, you'll have to wait your turn"

"No worries, just looking for Russell"

"Was here for lunch"

"Do you knohere he went?"

"Haven't a clue"

"If you see hi iht leaping Wally's steps to the sidewalk I passed the e taproolassand steel door anchored a nondescript brick façade On the door, a crud cakedrested above lare of a TV illuminated the bar patrons I let myself in, heads turned Three custoarette hanging frolared at lasses

"Ain't you a little young to be in here?" he asked Over his shoulder a stuffed deer hung froaze fixed on the noose

"We don't serve his kind here"

The patrons went back to watching TV

I eyed the e the wall To my left, the jukebox flashed for attention A tired pool table stood between the jukebox and the bar "What kind do you serve?"

He set the glass down "I don't serve little piss ants Get out of here before I throw you ass first onto the street"

"Have to catch me first you old fuck"

The patron's attention was back to me and the bartender "Better watch it boy," the nearest customer warned "Ole Luther here," he nodded at the bartender, "likes your type You hed