66
Leon and I stare out and over his property saying nothing at all. Our breath is crystalizing into a fog and disappearing after a couple moments of glory. Finally, after a cold long swig of beer he says.
“You suppose things go on forever sometimes.” I wait a moment and think about that.
“What do you mean?” He takes another drink.
“I mean I think we take things for granted while we got ’em sometimes.”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t imagine we’ll ever know much about when or how things are going to end. They just do.”
“We’ll be back man. Who knows how long we’ll last.”
“Yeah, I’m just sayin though. You know, I’m just sayin. It’s true.”
“Yeah man, I suppose it is.”
“You’re a good friend, Cash. A damn good fuckin friend. My best friend in the world. Don’t know how this place will get on without ya.”
He brings the can to his lips and just kind of nods to himself, having solidified this great big truth in his mind. Big old Leon looks over to me then. He has blue tears in his eyes.
“I love you brother.”
“I love you too.”
He sits there and nods a couple more times. He had said all he could say, and it was more than enough. He looks up to the black night and the stars are scattered, particularly spectacular in the sky.