from Caught Stealing: a novel
When I wake up, the first thing I think about is the fucking cat.
I’m looking after this guy’s cat for a couple weeks. God knows how long I’ve been out and if the thing is even alive. Fuck! I knew this would happen. I told the guy I wasn’t good with animals, that I can barely take care of myself, but he was really up against it, so I took the damn cat. Then I see I’m in the hospital and figure out I may have more important things to worry about.
A joke: Guy is born with three testicles and spends his whole life feeling like a freak. Boys make fun of him in gym class, girls laugh at him. Finally, he can’t take it and goes to have one of them lopped off. The doctor takes one look and tells the guy no way, it’s too dangerous, ait might kill him or something, but he sends him to a shrink who might help out. This counselor or whatever he is tells the guy to take it easy, he could should be proud of his third ball, he’s special. I mean, how many guys have three testicles, right? So the guy feels great after that. he leaves the doc’s office, walks into the street, goes up to the first man he sees and says, “Did you know, between you and me we’ve got five balls?” This dude looks at him funny and says, “You mean you only have one?”
First guy I see when I walk out of the hospital I go up to and start talking.
-Did you know, between you and me we only have three kidneys?
He doesn’t say anything, just walks around me like I’m not there.
New York, baby. New York.