sixth street walking down sixth street at night so many people and the lights flashing she can’t stop laughing spitting beer and choking her sequined shirt pulled tight around her bulging waist black pants almost splitting with the fall friends grab her and push her up against a lamppost if god suffers through man he is truly suffering here no need for clowns there is no room someone is handing out flyers to a group of young tattooed boys urging each other to bring attention to themselves a writer is finding his way in the Forties the boys are pushing for position parading their stomachs like armor pressed for battle and banter they swarm teasing the man grabbing his hat they all scatter the man throws his papers down in anger you fuckers the cockiness of saroyan gone with a hat