Delia's Gone (887 hits)
Category: GeneralRating: 2 on 23 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by CookieLass (View user info) at 2006-03-07 10:13:58 EST
The inside of the bar was cool and dark in the noonday heat. Shafts of grungy sunlight cut the gloom like a freshly stropped straight razor, but did nothing to ease the gloom. There was a worn out hooker contemplating infinity in a highball glass in one corner, a lit cigarette hanging limply from her mouth like last night's spent cock, coming to life only when she took a drag, motionlessly, chunks of ash dropping unheeded from the tip onto the tabletop. An impossibly skinny man, caricature of a cowboy, stood next to the ancient Wurlitzer jukebox, flipping the selection. His face was a collection of lines and pockmarks giving him a weary, interesting look. Face of granite. The bartender stood idly rubbing the exact same spot on the bar, over and over again. The mood was listless and forlorn. Until he came in. The Man in Black.
As the door opened, the few vagrant occupants of the bar winced and shrunk back against the bright intrusion of the light. He was haloed in light, almost holy but in a darkly sinister way. Dressed in black from head to foot, jet black hair oiled slick against his hair, his boots made a loud clump-clump-clumping noise across the floor. He bellied up to the bar and croaked in a gravelly, bemused voice "Whiskey. Straight. Delia's gone."
When the ruffled bartender pressed the shot into The Man's hand, he tossed it back and said, without even wincing with the heat of the liquor like most men, "Delia's gone. One more round. Delia's gone." He tossed back the second shot and settled himself on a cracked vinyl-covered barstool, hooking his boot-heel over one of the rungs. He gestured for another shot and motioned that the bartender should leave the bottle. He didn't look like man who would be much of a talker, but without invitation he said, in a voice warm as honey and deep as the ocean, "Delia. Oh, Delia. I loved Delia all my life. If I hadn't shot poor Delia, I'da had her for my wife." Third shot.
The bartender leaned in. "Sh-sh-sh-shot?" he reached defensively under the bartop for his bat, but he wasn't sure why. Though this man had just admitted to shooting some woman, he didn't have the air of danger that so many of his patrons tended toward. He looked battered, beaten, but prideful. A man who knew peace within himself despite years of struggle. A man who only did what he had to do. His deep baritone went on.
"She's been my girl since I was a kid. Nobody ever loved me the way ol' Delia did. When I went off to Folsom, she moved to Tennessee. I got out early and thought I'd surprise her. I went up to Memphis, and I met Delia there. Found her bent over in the parlour, so I tied her to a chair." He sighed. "Delia's gone, one more round, Delia's gone." Fourth shot.
The denizens of the dark corners were being drawn forward. If you've ever seen a stray cat being offered a tin of tuna, then you've seen the way they came close. Skittish, but curiosity burning in their bellies. Don't touch them, because they'll be gone before you can see which direction they went, but with patience, they'll settle in beside you and take all you have to offer. The Man in Black didn't move, but continued his story.
"She was lowdown and trifling, and she was cold and mean." He looked the silent bartender in his watery eyes and said, "The kind of evil made me wanna grab my sub-machine." He pronounced it sub-mo-sheen. His odd country accent teased the ear, and though Barkeep knew he had a horrible story to tell, he couldn't pull himself away. "Delia's gone. One more round, Delia's gone." Fifth shot. "The first time that I shot her, I caught her in the side. It was hard t watch her suffer, but with the second shot, she died." Sixth shot.
Hooker settled in one barstool down, and Cowboy inched into a better earshot. The Man's hands didn't shake as he lifted that shot glass. He might as well been drinking dishwater for all the recognition he gave the strong liquor. Perfect stillness came over him for a moment, but then he lifted his pleading, sad eyes to Barkeep and bemoaned, "But Barkeep, oh, Barkeep! Barkeep, I can't sleep. Because all around the bedside, I hear the patter of Delia's feet! Delia's gone, one more round! Delia's gone!"
Barkeep added three glasses to the bartop, and the Man in Black filled them all to the brim. They lifted in unison and he offered up this toast: So if your woman's devilish, you can let her run. Or, you can bring her down and do her like Delia got done. Delia's gone, one more round. Delia's gone.
User Reviews
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2006-03-29 10:30:42 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I really liked this.
Only thing that seemed wrong was
"a lit cigarette hanging limply from her mouth like last night's spent cock"
It just seemed to go against the tone of the rest of the piece.
Still worth a +2.
-Dave
Submitted by rockdocc (user info) at 2006-03-08 03:04:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
That was seriously very good.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-03-08 02:57:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2006-03-07 16:51:16 (#)
Ranking: 2
Tom Jones (the REAL one...) was in town.
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I saw Tom Jones a couple of years back at the MGM - BEST SHOW EVAR11111
Submitted by jgreening (user info) at 2006-03-07 19:58:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Loved the post.
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2006-03-07 16:51:16 (#)
Ranking: 2
Tom Jones (the REAL one...) was in town.
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He was. At the MGM. I have pictures* to prove it.
Sorry.
*(pictures are not of Tom Jones in concert or in person. or of an impersonator. or wax stature. it's a picture of a sign. a yellow one.)
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2006-03-07 16:51:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Tom Jones (the REAL one...) was in town.
Missed meeting you.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-03-07 16:19:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2 for Perry Mason
where have you been, girl?
Submitted by Susie_Derkins (user info) at 2006-03-07 12:52:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
plus fucking 2 for Johnny Cash
Submitted by simple_catalyst (user info) at 2006-03-07 12:41:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2006-03-07 11:32:44 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
+2
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2006-03-07 11:12:11 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Right you are then.
Though it'll pro'ly be home time then.
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2006-03-07 11:02:52 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Hmm... a week, eh? I can get you into an awful lot of trouble in a week.... I'll e-mail you on my lunch hour.
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:53:29 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Yeah, I can come visit. I'll have to stay for at least a week though.
I don't like flying and it'll take me that long to get over the outward journey.
Summer some time?
Drop my secretary an email.
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:42:59 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
no, we were going to have an Uber-wedding in Vegas, but we couldn't get the cash together to go. So now it's on hold indefinately (which is fine by me). If you've got the ability, you are most welcome to come visit.
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:39:40 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I was under the impression you weren't going to be around over Easter as you were getting married.
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:37:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Did you forget this fucking singer so soon?
And did you forget my song?
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:35:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Dervel, when are you coming for your visit? I have my Frank Miller guest room ready and waiting.
Submitted by Dervel (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:32:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
For one small, panick ridden moment, I thought Delia had left Norwich.
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:24:12 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Shot her down because she made me sore/I thought I was her daddy but she had five more
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:22:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:17:51 (#)
Ranking: 2
Auto +2 Cash
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I knew it. First Cave, now Cash. If you like Waits and Cohen as well I think my head will explode. Just a little.
Submitted by SilvrWolf (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:19:03 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Good stuff. I hope things are going well for you.
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:18:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:16:56 (#)
Ranking: 0
Can anybody tell I've been listening to alot of Johnny Cash lately?
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Fuck yeah I can. Go you.
Hey Joe
Where you going with that gun in your hand?
I'm gonna shoot my baby
I caught her messing round with another man.
Submitted by Orgasmatron (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:17:51 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Auto +2 Cash
Submitted by CookieLass (user info) at 2006-03-07 10:16:56 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
Can anybody tell I've been listening to alot of Johnny Cash lately?