Page 68 of Rhymes with Metaphor
Reg, with no alternative, recited the words to Joel in fits and starts, feeling slightly naked and exposed as he did, but Joel seemed non-judgmental, almost clinical, in accepting his words.
Joel was surprised they didn’t have to show their passports when they crossed the border into Wales.
“I thought it would be a bigger deal,” said Joel.“Traveling to another country.”
“Itisa big deal.And it’s not just another country.It’s another world.”
They pulled in at a rest stop.Reg bought a cup of revolting coffee and, at Joel’s request, some donuts, which were delivered in a red plastic basket accompanied by a small pot of chocolate pudding to dip in.The donuts were small, holeless, and covered in crystallized sugar.
“Those aren’t donuts,” said Joel.
“I know, but people here like to pretend they are, so please humour them.”
Joel got a handful of napkins from the dispenser and borrowed a pen from someone at a neighbouring table.
“What are you doing?”said Reg.
“Writing your poem.”
“Recite it to me.”
“I’m writing it down.”
“You don’t know where the line breaks are, so tell me what I said, andI’llwrite it down.”
Joel began reciting.Maybe it was Reg’s imagination or some alchemical reaction that had occurred between Reg’s words entering Joel’s mind, and Joel speaking them back to him, or maybe it was Joel’s rich tenor voice, but it sounded even better than he remembered.
“Thank you,” said Reg.
“I like the way your words taste,” said Joel.
“And how does it feel to have me inside you?”
“Satisfying,” said Joel.
“You didn’t have to answer,” said Reg, tucking the napkins into his pocket.“I was only curious.”
“You could write on your phone.”
“I need to write by hand.”
“On my scrub top.”
“I didn’t have my notebook with me,” said Reg.“And anyway, I filled it a while back.Which is a point: I need to buy a new notebook and some pens.I’m always losing them.We’ll stop and get some on the way.”
Reg took Joel to a stationary shop in Cardiff, full of brightly lit display cases and notebooks with covers in muted, metallic tones and reproductions of classic art and leather bindings and tastefully drawn illustrations.Reg chose three full-sized notebooks and several pocket-sized ones, knowing he was bound to mislay some of them.Then, he chose from an array of pens.
“Do you have a proper pen?”said Reg.
“I’ve got pens.”
“A grown-up pen,” said Reg.“Like these.”He indicated the display case.
“No.Just regular pens.”
Reg asked the sales assistant to unlock one of the cases.He chose a beautiful gold pen and asked to have it engravedFor JP from RF.A subtle disdain wafted from the sales assistant as he wrapped the items.
When they emerged from the store, Reg handed the wrapped pen to Joel.He remembered commissioning the platinum snake bracelet for Flip.He felt the same sense of claiming now, gifting Joel with a tangible token of his devotion.
