Falls the Shadow

Small Rabbits Dentist Ugbow said, “It’s got to come out!”

“When?” I wanted to know. “Not right now?”

He coughed. “Yes, right now.” His face went red and tears came to his eyes. “Excuse me.” He hacked for a full 3 minutes. “Oh god.

Piece of tooth in my throat.”

I left, got out of that small, steel room. And my goodness! what a day. The streets were golden with light, and in the sky a moon— full, translucent and blue.

I went to a booth and called the girl in my book. “Look,” I said, “I’d like to meet you at the water.”

We stood on the beach and I convinced her she should kiss me. I said, “Your hands are small rabbits. That soft.” She drank me up.

That night, lying in bed, the tiny man with the hammer got to work in my mouth. I was exquisite with pain; the universe throbbed.

“Dentist Ugbow,” I breathed. “I hope you’re ok?” The night gave back an enormous, white cough.