A terrible commotion had erupted in the common room of the GHOP (Gentlemen’s House of Pancakes). The common room, of course, is the one where the riff-raff sit. The ones who eat their pancakes by hand and sip their coffee from the spigot. And never smoke a pipe.
I looked up and who did I see?
Who do you think?
Diklitous P. Hercules, of course.
He was “pressing the flesh.” That is, he was shaking hands with diners, waitresses, and I think maybe the owner too. Also, he was shirtless. And without shoes. He did have on pants, but his 1950s strong-man physique was otherwise on full display. His hair was greased back. And after every handshake he fist-bumped his own forehead (see above photo).
I put my hand to my forehead, hoping I might render myself invisible, or at least less visible, and tried to focus on the financials page. Not possible. Not with the high-pitched nasal voice of Mr. H. cutting through. (He sounds like Costello, of the Abbot & Costellos).
When I dared again peek between my fingers, he was lying on a table, bench-pressing a waitress. She was giggling as she rode the hydraulics of his arms up and down, a pot of coffee in one hand, a tray of dirty dishes in the other. Everyone had gathered round and was cheering and clapping.
I snapped the financials page up like a wall between myself and the scene. I am a man with an interest in business, you see. But I could not resist. I peeked o’er the top of the paper, and do you know what I saw? Mr. Hercules flexing both biceps, busboys hanging from each. He kissed the forehead of one, then the other, all while staring me directly in the eye. When he flexed, the busboys rose and fell, laughing with glee.
I raised my newsprint shield once more. Not a moment later, a fist rapped upon my table. A meaty one. Silverware rattled. Beverages rippled.
The fist retreated, having dropped a paper napkin atop my pancakes.
I lowered my newspaper to find Mr. Hercules glaring at me threateningly. He had naught to say. He only pointed one finger down at the napkin, then at me. Then he flashed me the thumbs up, and smiled.
“It’s not good,” I whispered. “And the Professor has published it before!”
He pointed once more at me, then at the napkin. Then he ruffled my hair and turned to go.
This is why, my friends (if I may still call you my friends), the words I found printed in black marker on said napkin are reprinted below for your reading (dis)pleasure. My apologies. But you see that I had no choice.
Yours,
Walt
A Poem About Coffee by Dick Hercules
This cup of coffee
Which I call Nigel
Is so black that
When I ask him
How much more black
Could he be?
He whispers, “None.”
None more black? I say.
Nigel nods wisely,
And takes a sip
Of himself.
Dear Walt, I am becoming increasingly concerned for your personal safety it seems Mr H has become violent and threatening towards you and is forcing to publish his poetry under duress. it could be that the excessive fist bumping is causing this change in his personality or perhaps it has something to do with the particular variety of pancakes he consumes so voraciously, Just 2 days ago here in the UK we celebrated Shrove Tuesday or as we like to call it “Pancake Day” and indeed I must report that more outbreaks of random napkin prose were reported than ever before, we must bring this phenomenon to the attention of the relevant authorities before a tragedy occurs.
sincerely, concernedly.
Sam.
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Well, I don’t think he meant any harm. I think it was a jokey kind of threat. It came across as a bit condescending, though, didn’t it? But I don’t think he meant it that way. No matter. The fists bumps could be clouding his thinking, I’m sure. I didn’t know what Shrove Tuesday/Pancake Day was until just recently. I guess that’s what we in the states would equate with Fat Tuesday. Napkin prose and/or poetry must certainly be kept under strict watch. It could be disastrous. Please continue to do what you can to prevent it from spreading. ~ Walt.
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Chuckling at GHOP. And I do recall that poem (which was in itself disturbing to me…) – was it pubbed in something PL?
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Glad you got a chuckle. It is a bit disturbing though, isn’t it? Yes, it was in a Puncy Newsletter. The link will take you there.
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*laughs* I love these stories. What a disturber of the piece. He seems to think you’re his agent, Walt.
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Alackaday! He does! Who gave him that impression, do you think?
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Nice word! *laughs* Well…I might have. Maybe just maybe might have.
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Fine foray into non-sense Walt, and random acts of poetry, a habit I enjoy. Love fat Tuesday, my old work had special donuts on, and the more dim among us believed it a celebration of fat. Why not, essential to brain health fat.
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Nonsense is the best kind of sense, I think. All donuts are special, so special donuts must be extra special. I like mine with a side of pancakes.
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How profound! The worm of creation eats its own tail! This man, whom you have had the good fortune to meet, will revolutionize the blogging world (and still manage to bench-press a waitress with the other hand).
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And be my undoing, in the end, I fear.
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