The joint had come full circle
and was in the hands of a painter from Minnesota -- John --
sitting on my left,
wearing faded blue riding pants.
"Jodhpurs?" I asked.

"Rode when I was a teenager. Still have the pants.
Like the way they feel,"
he said laconically.
He passed me the joint. I took a long drag. Handed it to Gunter,
touching _____his new gold watch as I did so.

"A lady traded it to me in return for an art object," he said.

"What art object?"

_____"Surely you remember Pinocchio?"

..................................................... home