Excerpt for A Month of Girls by JohnSkaife, available in its entirety at Smashwords

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I considered writing a whole month's worth about girls, but then I decided I needed liberty.

Cathy O'Connor.

We worked together at the Canadian Home Shopping Network. My God, she was so beautiful. She had a boyfriend, so hankypanky was not on my mind (mostly).

We went to the Royal Ontario Museum together. In the cafeteria she told me that her sister had told her she didn't trust her with her children. Cathy cried about that, got up, left. I caught up with her out on the street.

She was a girl I loved. She might be dead by now.

Groovy, man. Really groovy. Can I have some of that? Man, the chicks here are hot. And cool at the same time. I guess that makes then lukewarm overall. Get down! Anybody seen my comb? Yeah, shake it! Can't believe I'm really here. Just a minute ago I was sitting in my basement, now I'm here! Hey, she's taking off her clothes. Wow. Naked and beautiful. Oh man, she's coming over here! Touching me! Shamelessly! She's so wet I can't believe it. Wow! That feels really good! I'm coming! It true what they say about fiction being better than reality.

Self-fulfilling Prophesy

I'm terribly frightened of doors.

The natural method is to push through it.

But what if someone's on the other side? What if his hand is reaching for the knob at that exact moment? His hand would be hit, possibly broken and crushed. In any case, it would be quite a fright.

This afternoon I wrote in my little notebook, "Fear of opening doors, fear of door opening." About an hour later I was about to go out of the smoking room. I reached for the knob. Just then it swung open. I jumped and looked foolish.
Women.

I am in bed, too awake, convulsing, looking for a spot in which I cannot hear my heart beat. I keep my eyes open, trying to hypnotize myself.

But maybe I
am asleep, dreaming I'm awake. It's a strange dream.

I am in bed, asleep, dreaming I'm looking for a spot in which I can't hear the radiator convulse so I can fall asleep.

But maybe I'm only dreaming I'm dreaming I'm awake. Strange dream. Maybe I'm not in my bed at all. Maybe I'm in a park dreaming I'm in a hotel room dreaming I'm in my bed, awake.

Great, Jeff. Why didn't you post a warning somewhere, like, "Writing here could get you in lots of trouble?"

Today Sierra, one of my bosses, called me into her office. A man was there too. Word had got around, and one particular item I wrote (I'm not gonna say which one because there might be a lawsuit in the works) had been taken very badly by one of my co-workers. Even though it was on my own time, the collective agreement stated etc. etc.

"This gentleman will escort you out of the building," she said.

So thanks, Jeff! I'm fired!

Breeder Peeder

Played poker this night against this total PRICK named Peeder. He was constantly goading me. It's not like he took any money from me, he pretty much broke even, but he thought he was superior to me.

So is it that assholes breed children, or is it that children breed assholes? Cause Peeder's a breeder. Has some kids.

Just an observation: that people who have kids are generally nastier than those that don't.

Me violent me fuck you bitch me don't give fuck. Slap me hand over your mouth bitch 'cause I like fuck. Don't care no baby.

I have been very well trained, by many of the best. My mother taught me how to relieve myself in the correct places. My father taught me I should always go along with the pack. My many teachers taught me how to stand up straight, obey orders, and report to the proper authorities. Woof! Excuse me, that was improper. My first female taught me the importance of loyalty and love and sex. And my children? Well, they taught me the importance of proper training in its own turn. Now will you please turn around so I can sniff your asshole?

Dog Blog

The
NYT has an article today about man's best friend. Sure, we're their friends; so why aren't they ours? Why no reciprocation? I mean, I like the water and the canned food, sometimes I like the kibble even, but does that mean he's my friend? Check out this article about working dogs. Slavery, it's nothing but slavery. But even worse, look at this PETA site. (If you can't read, just check out the pictures.) Such good friends, yeah. But we've got our revenge, though, haven't we? Because you and me both know we're actually woman's best friend. (NSFW.)

The King's Royal Diary

Why is everyone always trying to poison me? I've always tried to be a good, good King. He seemed like a good servant, and I trusted him with my wine and my hounds. I thought of him as a friend, almost like another son. We even played faro on several occasions. Then I caught him putting arsenic in my wine. Well, it hurt me more than it hurt him when he was drawn and quartered with his entrails thrown to my starving bears, let me tell you. So why is everyone always trying to poison me?

Warning

When your eyes get to wander where your hands do itch to go,
When your eyes get to wander where your hands do itch to go,
Don't never speak her name because then your pretty wife is sure to know.

(moan one verse)

Baby baby please give me that thing.
Baby baby please give me that thing.

Don't never trust a woman who tapes what you talk in your sleep.
Don't never trust a woman who tapes what you talk in your sleep.
You'll hear so much of it you'll be wishing you were more than six feet deep.

I was the first-born daughter of a very powerful King.

A powerful king had me. I will have power soon.

My father was very powerful and I'll be given things.

My father I knew for a time, 'til he died.

Hello, father. Father? He was once a somwhat great man.

A mansion. We were always on top of one another.

He was tall. He could reach the high filing cabinets.

I was a princess then. I must still be one?

Why does he stoop so? When did he get old?

My King disappeared sometime. I was left with a man.

I remember one of my first poems. Let me paraphrase.

It's about an astronomer shutting down his shop for the night. The log is closed. One last look through the telescope. He sees a glow. It's a supernova. A thousand planets destroyed. He jots down the co-ordinates on a scrap of paper, slips it into his pocket, and promptly forgets it.

His wife's doing laundry next day. "These pants?" "Yeah," he says, half-asleep. And the note is destroyed in the wash.

Inspired by a girl's phone number in some jeans that got washed.

Will you miss me when I'm gone?

I resent constantly that other people are more important than me. And I seek revenge!

Today I went into the smoking room. Suhana Meharchand was sitting at the nearest table. She's a
personality. I plunked myself down at her table and opened my Lovecraft book. I didn't look up once. She has to know she's nothing to me. (When in fact I think she's probably really nice and I'd like to fuck her mulatto pussy.)

So I read, and she finishes her smoke and leaves.

End story.

I know my life is clownlishly directed.

Maybe next time I'll say hello.

I Remember Adolph

I took some books I'd never read and went down to Queen Street to sell them so I could buy cigarettes.
Vanity Fair and others. Sold them for five dollars which was enough.

Out on the street a honk. A man was gesturing, like there was a fire somewhere. I opened the passenger side of his German car.

He said, with a German accent, "Come with me. I will pay you well."

"Oh, no, I'm meeting some friends. Sorry." I closed the door.

And I crossed the park. Kicking myself. I really could have used the money.

Music For Dancing and Sadness (I)

Whoo, I'm all out of breath!

Where did you learn to dance like that? Pretty cool!

Angelica. What's yours?

Nice, means Gift of God, did you know that?

Mississauga. And you?

It's so noisy in here, what?

Real downtowner, huh? Well, I want to move here soon.

Go to U of T.

I dunno, I guess an English degree. Are you a student?

Well, school isn't everything, right?

You're welcome, it was fun!

Um, do you come here often?

Cool.

Oh, c'mon, it's early.

Will you be here next Saturday?

Oh.

Okay.

Okay.

Bye.

I miss being able to burn my work.

I wish I could
burn the internet.

Pile it in a great pyre, in a clean and open field, upon an autumn day; douse it with gasoline, and burn it down. Melt it to a plastic goo.
Send all these words to the sky.

I know a painter who regularly goes down to the lake and
burns her work. I've always admired her for that.

I know, I have burned relatively few things by comparison, but it's the ability to
destroy myself that's the important part.

I would love to burn myself.


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