Pishwaugh and the Prizefighter
March 30, 2005• (0) Comments
My unfinished 2004 short story, Pishwaugh and the Prize Fighter, needs some love. Here’s a taste, mostly to remind myself to pick up the thread and actually take these characters somewhere.
* * *
In a little while, O’Malley came back into the bar and took a stool. “It’s all fixed,” the little man said.
“What’s fixed?” Pish replied, regarding him carefully.
“The match. I’ve got it all worked out. ”
The barkeep caught Pish’s eye and, with a nod, set two fresh glasses on the bar. Pish raised his and in a movement, emptied it, eyes damp. O’Malley made a small noise above his whisky, cupping the glass with two hands in the manner of someone warding off chill. The extra exertion seemed to work, as in a moment he brightened visibly and said “Farth round. He’ll take a knee.”
Pish considered this news for a moment and thought that the odds were only slightly better. “Will he come out punching?” he asked.
The little man appeared perplexed. “He’s his father’s son, now isn’t he?”