Outside Elko
A Story
by Porter FoxThe two men sat across from each other. A pair of car keys
rested on the table between them. One of the men held a glass mug, the other his head in his hands. A waitress stood by, waiting for their order. She coughed and scuffed her sneaker across the floor.
Get to it, Bill finally said.
What?
Order something.
Order for me.
I don’t know what you want.
Neither do I.
Bill looked at the waitress, tapped his mug. Two Buds.
Draft or bottles? she asked.
Either.
Which?
Bottles.
Bill watched her walk away. He whistled and winked at Ted. Then he went to the jukebox and punched in three songs.
How bad was it? he asked when he sat down.
Bad, said Ted.
What’d he do?
Nothing. Yet.
He hit you?
