Gov'ment Closed Down and Finnian was in Position to Watch
Finnian Martinez has been in Whiz Bang a long time. Saw him sit'n the edge with a picnic basket a'side him, when Kiva's tail went poofy and I peek'd out the window.
Jeez, gotta wash the windows. Grubby, I thought.
Grab'd my walk'n stick. I shuffl'd the path to get to him. Wonder'n what was a'go'n on.
He sat on a rock ledge. His boots hang'n over. Hum'n to hisself. He be an old coot who can't keep his pointy fingers outta his nose.
He couldn't pick, he'd be mute.
Plunk'd my carcass down next a'him and ask'd what he be do'n. He picked a bit and said, "Watch'n 'em switch off the gov'ment."
Didn't matter that we be on a butte, look'n down at desert, rock, scrub and cacty. Be a shadow of the city far on the line old Sol scoots down to the dark. Don't see Spirit Ribbon in the lights of the city.
Too purdy for a candy stick name. Milky Way my patoot, I thought.
Finnian made grizzly a word. He be natty, tacky, gamey and thread bare. With a smile that make rainbows blush. Wears a heart's armor like ice'n down a hot roll. Small man that fills the space he be tak'n up.
"Don't shut down gov'ment like a switch, Finn. What ya think, maybe Sol blinks out?" I said.
Onyx eyes peek'd at me through his beard of golden colors and said, "Switch of gov'ment be the people, She of Two Spirits. Turn'd off people from the gov'ment is what those fools did."
"Hell, a goat knows that, ya old gink! What ya think gonna happen?" I chided-like.
He look'd sorrowful. Full a doom'n gloom. Fingers pick'n a mile a minute-like. He took his snot rag and honk'd a wood duck call with a lisp. Wipe'n his snoot, those fingers aim'd for it like skeeters.
"All be in grave danger. Congress done got'n dangerous to the Consitution. Those 'high crimes an misnomers' stuff," he said.
I look'd at him a bit, then said, "You be worry'n about the Republicans shut'n down the joint? Gosh, just 'bout everybody is a fret'n over it."
"Bunch of republicans plan'd to shut down gov'mint afore they did it. Delibert, with malice and stuff. Took an oath, didn't they? Swore on that book! T'wernt an accident. Done on purpose," he sputtered.
I nod'd and said, "Whatcha think outta happen to people that plan on bring'n harm to the country's economy, Finn?"
Finn grab'd his snot rag. Gave three honks. Fingers found home. If'n I blink'd, I'd a miss'd it. He thought about it a bit.
"Ain't act'n like any American I ever know'd or hear'd about. They all be in cahoots. Like a ball a'snakes. Put 'em in that Gitmo joint," he said.
Sometimes, truth be cold and heavy.
Haul'd my butt up, pat'd Finn on the head, then stick walk'd back to my hovel to hold Kiva and wait for that which be a'com'n.